Abuja land owners get Jan. 3, 2025 deadline to settle bills on C-of-O

By Stanley Onyekwere

Owners of 762 plots of land in Maitama II District, Cadastral Zone, A10, Abuja, have gotten a fresh ultimatum to pay for their Certificates of Occupancy (C-of-O) or risk final revocation of their allocation.
This was disclosed by a statement on Friday, by his Senior Special Assistant to the FCT minister, Barrister Nyesom Wike, on Public Communications and New Media, Lere Olayinka.
According to the statement, the FCT minister who gave the fresh ultimatum for the duration of two weeks, reiterated that the primary interest was not for people to lose their lands, but to get them to make necessary payments to the government.
The statement reads in part;
“It should be recalled that on October 5, 2024, list of 3,273 allottees/title holders that were yet to pay for their C-of-O were published.
“They were offered two weeks to pay their bills or lose their Right of Occupancy (R-of-O) titles. Out of the 3,273, a total of 2,511 complied, leaving 762.
“Yesterday (Thursday), notice of withdrawal of the R-of-O titles of the 762 defaulters was published.
“Since then, many of the affected allottees have offered to pay, and since the primary aim of the government is to ensure payment, a two weeks grace has been given.
“Consequently, the 762 allottees and the 614 others with outstanding payment on C-of-O will have till January 3, 2025 to pay, or have their R-of-O titles withdrawn, pursuant to the provisions of Section 28 of the Land Use Act of 1978.
“After January 3, 2025, there will be no further extension and withdrawal of the R-of-O titles of defaulters will be final.”