MARGARET CHIDERA
ABUJA, Nigeria – Just as the saying goes…’the rich also cry’, no fewer than 167 elites in Nigeria have lost their lands in Abuja for refusal or failure to develop their plots in some highbrow districts of the Federal Capital Territory.
This is as the FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike, in line with Section 28(5)(a) & (b) of the Land Use Act 1978, exercised the powers conferred on him to revoke 165 plots with names and titles for continued contravention of the terms of development of the Right of Occupancy to wit non-development.
According to a notice issued by the FCT Administration, the areas affected are Maitama, Gudu, Wuye which had the highest revocation, 41; and Katampe, Katampe Extension, Wuse 2, Jabi, Utako, Idu Industrial zone and Asokoro, with the second highest revocation, 39.
The notice for the revocation as compiled by the Land Department was approved by the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Barrister Nyesom Wike, who revoked the plots due to continuous contravention of the terms of agreement as encapsulated in the 1978 Land Use Act.
The revoked plots belong to individuals and corporate organisations, who have continually failed to keep to the terms of agreement as contained in Section 28(5) (a) & (b) of the Land Use Act.
The One Hundred and Sixty-Five (165) plots are situated within some districts in the FCC namely: Central Business District, Maitama (A05); Maitama (A06); Wuse II (A08); Gudu (B01) and Wuye (B03).
Others are Jabi (B04); Utako (B05); Katampe Extension (B19); Idu Industrial Area (C16) and Asokoro (A04) Districts respectively.
The revocation of the affected plots was approved by the Minister following the violation of the terms of Rights of Occupancy.
“The Federal Capital Territory Administration FCTA hereby informs the general public that the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory has, in the exercise of the powers conferred on him under Section 28(5)(a) & (b) of the Land Use Act 1978, revoked the underlisted plots with names and titles as reflected in our records for continued contravention of the terms of development of the Right of Occupancy to wit non-development”, the administration said in the notice signed by the Permanent Secretary, Mr Olusade Adesola.
Some of the plots revoked in Maitama district A05 had names like Liyel Imoke, Musa Aboki Egu, Hassan Hadejia and Ishaya Baba.
In Jabi B04, some of the plots revoked had allottees such as Sam Nda-Isaiah, Donubari Josephine Kogbara, while Katampe district had Peter Gregory Obi, BUA International, among others.
In other areas, the revoked plots had names as Julius Berger Nigeria, Honeywell Construction, Uffot Joseph Ekaette, Shittu Mohammed, Udoma Udo Udoma, Kanu Agabi, Niki Niki Tobi, Ishaku Bello and others.
Wike had on the assumption of office vowed to restore the Abuja masterplan and revoke plots that had not been developed or those whose ground rents have not been paid for years.
He had consequently given a two-week grace to allottees to pay their ground rents or risk revocation of their allocations.
