The gale of revocation of landed property by the minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) has made 21 embassies and 168 others to be on edge as ownership of their undeveloped plots of land are about be withdrawn.
Spokesman for the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA), Muhammad Sule, said the minister had approved a three-month grace period for 189 titleholders, who obtained building plan approvals but were yet to commence development of on their property.
He said the grace period is for the affected 21 embassies and 168 others to “commence development of their plots failure of which their titles shall be revoked for continued contravention of the terms of development of the right of occupancy.
Some of the diplomatic missions are the embassies of Ireland, Embassy of France, Canadian High Commission, Embassy of the Democratic Republic of Congo, Embassy of Turkey, Embassy of the Peoples Republic of Angola, Embassy of the Republic Korea, Embassy of Philippines and Tanzania High Commission.
Others are Embassies of Syrian Republic, Iran, Germany, Belgium, Netherlands, Italy, Thailand, Algeria, Trinidad and Tobago, Cote D’Ivoire, Argentina, Togo, Indonesia and several government agencies including those of the FCTA.
Equally given a three-month grace are the Abuja National Mosque Council, Abuja National Mosque Management Committee, Daily Times of Nigeria, Elf Petroleum, Access Bank, Federal Housing Authority, Adamu Ajuji Waziri, Isa Yuguda, Eyitayo Lambo, Abba Gana, Mohammed Abubakar Rimi, Nigerian Navy, Gamji Construction Limited, Lagos State Liaison Office, Nigeria Customs Service, John Kennedy Opara, Federal Fire Service and a host of others.
Accordingly, the affected property owners are to do so within the stipulated period or have their title revoked in line with the provisions of the law.
The statement said the gesture was only extended to both individuals and corporate organisations who showed the desire to develop their property by obtaining building plan approvals but were yet to start proper development on their property situated within the federal capital city.
“Similarly, public institutions that have land titles within the Federal Capital City but are yet to develop same, have also been given a grace period of three months to commence development in order to avoid sanction.
“Thus, the minister has extended this gesture to 189 property owners due to their desire to develop the property by obtaining Building Plan Approvals which is a prerequisite for development of any property in the Federal Capital Territory.
“The owners of these plots were exempted from revocation because they have already demonstrated firm commitment towards developing their property by obtaining necessary documents from the FCTA,” the statement added.
It urged the affected property owners to take advantage of the minister’s gesture and develop their plots as published in some national dailies, in line with the terms of offer of the R of O.
In another statement the permanent secretary in the FCTA, Mr Olusade Adesola said minister had approved the revocation of 21 plots of land in the central business district of the FCT.
A revocation notice signed by Adesola said the minister took the decision, “in the exercise of the powers conferred on him under Section 28(5) (a) & (b) of the Land Use Act 1978”.
He said the lands were revoked “for continued contravention of the terms of development of the R of O.
Some of the allottees affected by the action include Lowe Lintas, Tourist Company of Nigeria, Coscharis Motors, CFA Motors, Chidol Properties among others.
