By Laide Akinboade, Abuja

The Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) on Wednesday explained that some Government institutions, private organizations, and private individuals were all part of the 4,794 land titles that were revoked for failure to pay ground rents between 10 years to over 30 years.

It would be recalled that the FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike recently approved revocation of 4,794 land titles over non-payment of Ground Rent for more than 40 years.

The Director of Land, Chijioke Nwankwoeze stated this while briefing journalists after the FCTA Executive meeting in Abuja.

Nwankwoeze said it was not only the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) land titles that were revoked but there were 4,793 other titles.

He added that PDP is owing N7,603,504 Naira as ground rent, in the central area property.

Among those whose land titles were revoked included, Nigerian Postal Authority, the Central Bank of Nigeria, NNPC, Nigerian Universities Commission (NUC), ConOil, Borno State Government, NDDC, Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria, Federal Ministry of Environment, the Nigerian Security Printing and Minting Company, etc.

According to the Director of Land, “PDP, as of today, for the central area property, PDP is owing N7,603,504 Naira as ground rent from 2006 to 2025, 20 years.

“Yes, just like you said, the media has been awash with the revocation notice sent to the People’s Democratic Party.

“But the truth is that the minister revoked 4,794 titles. PDP is just one of them – just one, not two.

“The titles we are talking about that belong to PDP are only one, the one in the central area. Where they are occupying as their national headquarters is not their property. That is the clarification that people need to know.

“The property belongs to one Samaila Maman Ofi, who bought it from Wadata and got his papers registered by way of assignment. So, on that property, 28 years’ worth of ground rent has been owed. 28 years, from 1998 to 2025.

“They owe 2,848,173 Naira 36 Kobo for 28 years. And we put out notices for people to come and pay or risk having their titles revoked. From 2023 to now, that’s about a year and a half from when those publications started, they did not pay”.

He continued, “And the Minister had to do what he needed to do – not just on that, but on all other titles. And people are telling me we are revoking two properties belonging to PDP. That’s not true. It’s the only one that belongs to PDP, the one in the central area.

“The one they owe 20 years’ worth of ground rent on, from 2006 to 2025. The one in Zone 5, where they are currently occupying as their national headquarters, does not belong to PDP. It belongs to Samaila Mamangofu.

“And the revocation notice has been served on him at his Kaduna address – the address on record. We did not serve any such notice to the PDP. The only one we served them was the one for the central area.

“You don’t serve a revocation notice on a tenant or an occupier. You serve it on the title holder – that’s what the law says. So, for clarity purposes, it’s only one property owned by PDP that was revoked under those circumstances”.

He said, “And I want to also mention that we are talking about 4,794 titles. There are so many people who are affected. Government institutions, private organizations, private individuals – the Nigerian Postal Authority is there, the Central Bank of Nigeria is there, NNPC is there, INF is there, the Nigerian Universities Commission is there, NNPC is there, Cone Oil is there, Borno State Government is there, NDDC is there, the Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria is there, the Federal Ministry of Environment is there, the Nigerian Security Printing and Minting Company is there – and so many others.

“It’s not only PDP. So, I don’t know where the information about the revocation being targeted at PDP is coming from. So, let that be noted by the public, please. Thank you very much”.

He noted, “So we implore everyone who has not paid, not just in the A districts, that’s the phase one districts, to please go and pay because who will be coming to do the same thing in the phase two districts.

“Any district that starts, the cadastral zone starts with B is phase II. Anyone that starts with C is phase three. So Gudu, Utako, Mabushi, Jabi, Daki-biyu, Katampe, Katampe Extension and all of those districts, Kado, will soon be coming to them. So please, everybody should go and pay his ground rent.

“I also want to remind you that that’s not the only obligation you have under the grant. You also need to pay your right of occupancy bills and get your certificates. So these are things that are very important for all our allottees to deal with”.

The coordinator of the Abuja Metropolitan Management Council (AMMC), Felix Obuah  in his briefing said, the executives during its meeting had concluded arrangements to purchase some equipment which included, SIM card wheel loader 1, Caterpillar wheel loader 950 GC 1, Excavator 320 GS 1, Caterpillar excavator 323 1 Dozer D6,  and D6 1. “Total equipment: 6; 5 caterpillars; and movement equipment for movement control”, he said.

“Today, we seek the approval for the procurement of some critical earth-moving machines and equipment for the Department of Development Control under Abuja Metropolitan Management Council, AMMC, in favor of Matrak Nigerian Limited, that was approved by the Council to the total tune of 1,940,572,410 Naira, inclusive of VAT, with a due period of three weeks, and the EXCO gave approval. By the special grace of God, with this purchase of this earth-moving equipment, it will ease the work of the Development Control under AMMC, he said.

On land revocation he said, “Well, as I said the other day, those titles have been revoked and those properties have reverted to the FCT and, of course, in due course, the administration will take possession of them.

“I want to let the public know that it is simply because people are not fulfilling their obligations  under the grants that these things are happening.

“Anybody or any organization whose title is revoked by the minister has a window to approach the minister, or write to the minister, appealing for reinstatement of such title.

“And the minister, in some cases – deserving cases – has approved reinstatement of those titles”.

The Acting Executive Chairman of the Federal Capital Territory Internal Revenue Service (FCT-IRS), Michael Ango, said the Exco also approved for the agency the procurement of Microsoft 365 license at the tune of N242,827,450 Naira.