Tinubu Wades into Abuja Land Rent Revocations, Gives Defaulters 14-day Grace to Pay
President Bola Tinubu has stepped in to address the long-standing issue of unpaid ground rent in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), giving defaulters a 14-day ultimatum to settle their debts.
In a statement released by the Presidency, President Tinubu directed the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) to compile a list of all property owners who are owing ground rent and serve them with a notice to pay up within the stipulated timeframe.
The move is aimed at recovering billions of naira in unpaid ground rent, which has been a major challenge for the FCTA in recent years.
The administration has been struggling to provide basic infrastructure and services to residents due to the significant shortfall in revenue.
According to the FCTA, the total amount of unpaid ground rent stands at over N10 billion, with some property owners owing as much as N100 million or more.
The defaulters include individuals, companies, and organizations, including some high-profile politicians and business leaders.
The President’s intervention is seen as a significant step towards addressing the issue, which has been a subject of controversy and debate in recent years.
The FCTA has been criticized for its handling of the matter, with some accusing the administration of being too lenient with defaulters.
Under the new directive, property owners who fail to pay their ground rent within the 14-day ultimatum will face severe penalties, including seizure of their properties and prosecution.
The FCTA has warned that it will not hesitate to take drastic action against defaulters, including revoking their titles and allocating their properties to other developers.
The President’s decision has been welcomed by residents and stakeholders in the FCT, who have been calling for urgent action to address the issue.
“This is a bold move by the President, and we commend him for taking decisive action.
“The FCTA needs to be firm and decisive in dealing with defaulters, and we hope that this will mark a new era of accountability and transparency in the administration of the territory,” said a resident of Abuja.
The FCTA has assured residents that it will work tirelessly to ensure that the directive is implemented to the letter, and that all defaulters are brought to book.
“We will leave no stone unturned in our efforts to recover the unpaid ground rent,. We urge all property owners to take this directive seriously and pay up their debts within the stipulated timeframe to avoid any consequences,” said a spokesperson for the FCTA.
The 14-day ultimatum takes effect immediately, and property owners are advised to contact the FCTA to confirm their debt status and make payments accordingly.
The FCTA has set up a dedicated team to handle the payments and respond to inquiries from property owners.
As the deadline approaches, residents and stakeholders are watching with keen interest to see how the FCTA will implement the President’s directive and recover the unpaid ground rent.
One thing is certain, however: the era of impunity and non-payment of ground rent in the FCT is coming to an end, and property owners who have been defaulting on their payments will soon face the consequences of their actions.
