FCT Administration to Enforce Land Use, Ground Rent Compliance
The Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) will commence enforcement actions against residents violating land use regulations and defaulting on ground rent payments. This decision was announced following the FCT Executive Committee meeting on Monday, chaired by Minister Nyesom Wike.
The Director of the Department of Lands Administration, Mr. Chijioke Nwankwoezue, stated that defaulters had been given ample notice to comply with previous directives, necessitating the new enforcement measure.
In a related update, Mr. Nwankwoezue highlighted a significant improvement in the issuance of Certificates of Occupancy (C of O). He reported that the process, which previously took years, can now be completed in as little as one week, with the Minister’s approval typically granted within two days of submission.
The director identified key factors causing delays in C of O processing, including applicants’ failure to submit passport photographs, not responding within the 21-day window to accept or decline a Right of Occupancy offer, unconfirmed Remita payments, and the use of non-verifiable addresses like P.O. Boxes.
The Executive Committee ratified three memoranda. These include:
- The purchase of ₦7.3 billion worth of diesel for waste disposal and management plants in Mabushi, Jabi, Durumi, and Wuye districts.
- The procurement of food and non-food items for flood victims in the FCT.
- A ₦1.13 billion contract to supply communication gadgets and equipment for FCT security agencies.
Coordinator of the Abuja Metropolitan Management Council (AMMC), Chief Felix Obuah, confirmed the diesel procurement cost. Director of the FCT Department of Procurement, Alhaji Musa Idris, explained that the security equipment procurement aims to bolster operational capacities across agencies.
Chief of Staff to the Minister, Chidi Amadi, also thanked the media for consistently reporting the administration’s policies and programmes.
The announced enforcement signals a shift towards stricter land administration compliance, while the streamlined C of O process and approved procurements reflect ongoing efforts to improve service delivery and infrastructure in Nigeria’s capital.
