President Bola Tinubu has stepped in to stop the ongoing sealing of thousands of properties in the Federal Capital Territory.
Tinubu gave a 14-day deadline to those who owe ground rent and have failed to complete required documentation.
This action came after the FCT Administration began enforcement on nearly 4,800 properties that had not paid rent for periods ranging from 10 to over 40 years.
The affected properties belong to a wide range of owners, including private individuals, businesses, and government agencies.
The move initially led to the revocation of titles on these properties by the FCT authorities, who said they were only carrying out their responsibilities.
However, following the president’s involvement, the property owners now have two weeks to pay their outstanding rent and penalties or risk losing their land titles permanently.
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The grace period applies not only to those whose properties were revoked but also to others who are yet to register their ownership properly or pay key charges like the Right of Occupancy and Certificate of Occupancy bills.
The penalty amount depends on the location of the property.
Those in high-end areas like the Central Area must pay a N5 million penalty, while owners in Maitama, Asokoro, Wuse II, and Guzape are expected to pay N3 million. Properties in places like Wuse I, Garki I, and Garki II carry a N2 million penalty, in addition to the ground rent they owe.
Those who bought properties without registering their ownership through the right channels have also been given 14 days to get approval from the FCT Minister and register their deeds properly.
Failure to do this within the set period may lead to further penalties or loss of the property.
The Minister of the FCT, Nyesom Wike, also warned that anyone who fails to pay required land charges within the grace period will face revocation.
The authorities say these actions are meant to keep the system running properly and fund development projects that benefit residents.
