The Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) says it has halted the ongoing sealing of 4,794 properties across Abuja over their refusal to pay ground rents due to the intervention of
President Bola Tinubu.
As a result of President Tinubu’s intervention, the FCTA said it has approved a 14-day grace period for defaulters to pay their debts.
The FCTA, had on Monday, began sealing amd seizure of 4,794 properties following their refusal to pay accumulated ground rent of between 10 to 43 years.
Wadata Plaza, the national secretariat of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), was among the properties earlier sealed by the FCTA before President Tinubu’s intervention.
Others are properties housing a commercial bank, the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS), and the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP), all located in Wuse Zone 5.
Lere Olayinka, the Senior Special Assistant on Public Communications and Social Media to the FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike confirmed the decision to suspend the sealing and seizure of the defaulting 4,794 properties .
Olayinka in a statement on Monday said defaulters in different districts are now expected to pay varying penalty amounts in addition to their outstanding rent
He listed the districts and penalties to pay as Central Area, N5 million , Maitama, Asokoro, Wuse II, and Guzape: N3 million, Wuse I, Garki I, and Garki II, N2 million.
The statement said property buyers who are yet registered their ownership through the mandatory Minister’s Consent and Deed of Assignment now have 14 days to do so at the FCT Department of Land Administration.
Additionally, all property holders have been given the same two weeks window to pay outstanding Right of Occupancy (R-of-O) and Certificate of Occupancy (C-of-O) charges or risk the revocation of their titles.
According to FCTA, this measure is aimed at improving revenue generation to fund ongoing and future infrastructural development within the capital territory.
(vitalnewsngr.com)
