The ascension of Barrister Nyesom Ezenwo Wike as the Minister of FCT has attracted more blessings and revelation to the untapped internally generated revenue IGR of the territory.
The ongoing implementation of ground rent payments abandoned by both public and private entities who owned properties for many decades will be a source of revenue boost for the FCT that could translate to bumper infrastructural and many other development desiring attention in the FCT.
For the over 4,000 defaulters of ground rent , it is expected that from the enforcement strategies been put in place , over 70 Billion will be generated annually with compliance from residents of the FCT, this untapped revenues could harness infrastructural rejuvenation in the nations city.
The discovery by the Wike led FCT administration, has become a nightmare to law breakers , lawless individuals and corporate organizations, including the public and private organizations to take advantage and deliberately refused to pay , as the proceeds has find it’s way into private pockets, rather government coffers .
Aside the ground rents due for payment by over 4,000 organisations , which affected virtually many public and private sectors, with the enforcement of payment that started on Monday, May 26, 2025 , it will improve the revenue base from the housing sector.
The enforcement been carried out by FCT administration through the lock and key of the government offices, party offices, private organizations that was intervened by the federal government giving 2 weeks grace, had sent signals down to defaulters to get prepared for a showdown for defaulters and recalcitrant occupants.
With the ongoing reforms and innovation in land administration, processing of land documents both from area councils and allocation will be regularised on a fee payable by the beneficiaries.
Payment of fees , charges , rents and fees are not specified in allocation of( R -of- O) or (C- of- O), or in some cases slowed payment or non payment, this will be addressed for enhanced compliance and revenue collection.
With over 445 Mass Housing allocations granted , only two developers has met the terms and conditions which is ridiculous, leaving about 443 developers and their occupants in Mass Housing estates thriving in illegality, which the present administration promised to redress and attract revenue to the FCT through the numbering and titling in favour of buyers .
The new task force will also determine the proliferation of unregistered estate developers that has occupied the nations city without proper documentation, which will also attract registration and regularization with FCT administration.
“These reforms, which become operational from April 21, 2025, cover specific areas like conditions of grant of Statutory Right of Occupancy, contents of the Statutory Right of Occupancy Bill, contents of Letter of Acceptance/Refusal of offer of grant of Right of Occupancy, titling of Mass Housing and sectional interests, as well as regularization of Area Council Land documents.”
“It should be noted that before now, deadline for payment of bills, rents, fees and charges is not specified in the Statutory Right of Occupancy bill, and no penalty for failure to make payment promptly. This has caused delay in revenue receivable due to non-collection of Right of Occupancy (R-of-O) and non-payment of bills, slower pace of infrastructural development, sustained land speculation and racketeering while huge expenses have been incurred by the FCT Administration through repeated advertisements and publications notifying the public on the need for collection of R-of-O and timely payment of bills and charges.”
“Consequently, as against the unspecified period within which to collect the Right of Occupancy (R-of-O) and make full payment of the Statutory Right of Occupancy bills and charges, land allottees now have 21 days from the date of offer, to make full payment of all bills, fees, rents and charges prescribed on offers of Statutory Rights of Occupancy and submit a duly completed Letter of acceptance alongside evidence of payments, or lose the offer.”
“Also, as against the lengthy period within which to develop allocated lands, the period within which to erect and complete developments on any land granted in the FCT is now two years from the date of the commencement of the R-of-O.”
“Therefore, any R-of-O bills and any other payments made outside the stipulated 21 days shall be considered invalid while any land granted should be developed within two years. ”
“On lands previously allocated by Area Councils, the law stipulates that all lands in the FCT are urban land. It therefore becomes necessary that all land documents issued by the Area Councils are considered for regularisation to statutory titles in line with relevant statutes.”
“It should be noted that in 2006, the Zonal Land, Planning and Survey offices of the six Area Councils were directed to submit all Area Council allocation lists, layouts, files and registers to Abuja Geographic Information System (AGIS)/Lands Department, and this was done by the Area Councils.”
“However, to date, out of the 261,914 Area Council land documents submitted for regularization, only 8,287 have been vetted, out of which only 2,358 were cleared, validated and regularized to statutory titles. The 8,287 were vetted from 2006 to 2023 (17 years), and this represents just 3.2% of the total land documents submitted for vetting and regularization as at today, the FCT Administration is still left with 253,627 submissions in its database.”
“Area Council land documents successfully vetted and confirmed would have statutory titles on such lands issued and the allottees will have sixty days to make full payments of all bills, fees, rents and charges prescribed, failure of which the offers shall become invalid.”
*On Mass Housing, it should be noted that the Mass Housing Programme was initiated in year 2000 to utilize the Public Private Partnership (PPP) strategy with the objective of providing affordable housing for the residents of FCT. ”
“However, from the inception of the Mass Housing programme in 2000 till date, out of the 445 Mass Housing allocations granted, only two developers have successfully met the terms and conditions.”
“A new operational framework for titling of Mass Housing and Sectional Interests has been developed to fast-track the exercise efficiently, effectively and diligently, in line with the Minister’s vision to restore confidence in the administration of lands in the FCT.”
“Currently, the holders/occupiers of properties within the various Mass Housing Estates in the FCT do not pay and bills, rents, fees and charges to the government despite having held and occupied the properties for decades.”
“In recognition of the urgent need to issue titles to the beneficiaries of Mass Housing and Sectional Interests, all applications for titling are to be made by the Subscribers/Developers to the Department of land Administration for processing.”
The new policy, template, innovation and initiative introduced by Wike led administration is capable of generating over 200 Billion per annum and beyond , that will guarantee the continuous infrastructural development of the FCT, as well as all other commitments of the administration.
With a rejigged Internally Generated Revenue IGR coordinated through the new FCT- IRS, no doubt more development, more reforms and interventions will be carried out by the Wike led administration aside the statutory allocation from the government.
The untapped revenue particularly from the land allocation, will become a source of breakthrough in all spheres of the FCT administration.
Written BY ABUBAKAR YUSUF on yus.abubakar3@gmail.com.
