Nyesom Wike, minister of the federal capital territory(FCT), has given property owners who violated land use regulations in parts ofAbuja, the nation’s capital, a final 14-day grace period to pay a N5 millionviolation fee. Early in September, the FCT minister fined some propertyowners in Abuja for converting their buildings to other uses without approval. Most of the properties were converted from residential tocommercial use. In a notice published in national dailies, the propertyowners were given 30 days to regularise their titles. However, according to a statement issued on Sunday by LereOlayinka, senior special assistant to Wike on public communications and socialmedia, the 30-day window earlier granted by the FCTA in September for thepayment of the penalty had expired. He added that the minister has approved another 14-day graceperiod, beginning Tuesday, November 11, for defaulters to pay the N5 millionfee and other applicable charges for land use change and conversion. “The Honourable Minister of the Federal Capital Territory(FCT), His Excellency, Barr. Nyesom Ezenwo Wike, CON, has magnanimously granteda final grace period of 14 calendar days from Tuesday, November 11, 2025, forall affected allottees/holders of properties along the said streets/locationsto comply with the terms and conditions of the approval for land usechange/conversion,” the statement reads. “Failure to comply within the stated 14-calendar-day graceperiod will result in enforcement actions by the FCT Administration.” The affected areas include Gana Street and Usuma Street inMaitama, Yakubu Gowon Crescent in Asokoro, Aminu Kano Crescent and AdetokunboAdemola Crescent in Wuse II, Ladoke Akintola Boulevard, Gimbiya Street, andOnitsha Street in Garki II, as well as Ogbomosho Street, Lafia Close, YolaStreet, Abriba Close, Danbatta Street, Ringim Close, and Ilorin Street in GarkiI. Olayinka said property owners who regularise their land usewill be eligible for new title documents. “The Honourable Minister has, in addition, graciouslyapproved the issuance of new title documents (Statutory Right of Occupancy andCertificate of Occupancy) in favour of the affected property owners, reflectingthe updated land use of the properties for a fresh term of 99 years, uponfulfilling all necessary conditions,” he added. He clarified that the current exercise does not cover titlesthat were earlier revoked for non-development, non-payment of ground rent, orother infractions. Some of the affected property owners include AbdullahiGanduje, former national chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC);Olagunsoye Oyinlola, ex-governor of Osun; Atanda Fatai-Williams and AlomaMariam Mukhtar, former justices of the supreme court; and the Nigerian NationalPetroleum Company (NNPC) Limited.
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