FCTA moves to enforce compliance on land use contraventions, others

By Stanley Onyekwere

The Federal Capital Territory Administration has stated that it will start enforcing compliance on residents who contravene land use, and those defaulting with regard to ground rent as well.

This was part of the decisions taken at the FCT Executive Committee Meeting today, March 2, 2026, chaired by the FCT Minister, Barr. Ezenwo Nyesom Wike, at his official residence in Life Camp.

Speaking with journalists after the event, Director, Department of Lands Administration, Mr. Chijioke Nwankwoeze pointed out that the Administration had given defaulters ample time to comply with the Administration’s directive hence the need to take action on non-compliance.

Mr. Nwankwoeze, further gave an update on the issuance of Certificates of Occupancy in the Federal Capital Territory. He announced that the process of issuing C of O had greatly improved.

“Unlike before when it took years or even decades, in the current dispensation, C of O issuance is possible in as short as one week. The Minister does not waste time in signing C of Os. Once we send the C of Os to him, within two days, they are back”, he revealed.

He went on to unravel the underlying causes of delay in C of O processing to include non-submission of passport photos and refusal to accept or decline the offer of Rights of Occupancy within the stipulated time of 21 days. The Director, Lands also identified other causes of C of O delay to include non-confirmation of Remita payments and the use of unverifiable addresses such as P. O. Box which are not actual physical locations.

Meanwhile, a total of three memoranda were presented and ratified by the committee. These are: approval for the purchase of diesel for waste disposal and management plants at four districts in the FCT, ratification and procurement of food and non-food items for victims of flood-affected areas in the FCT and the approval and ratification of the contract for the supply of communication gadgets and other equipment for the support of FCT security agencies.

Elaborating on the memoranda, the Coordinator, Abuja Metropolitan Management Council (AMMC), Chief Felix Obuah, explained that the purchase of diesel for waste disposal and management plants in Mabushi, Jabi, Durumi and Wuye districts was at the cost of N7,300,000,000.

Similarly, Director, FCT Department of Procurement, Alhaji Musa Idris, revealed that the supply of communication gadgets and other equipment for FCT security agencies cost the administration N1,133,802,500.

He stated that the essence of the procurement was to support the agencies in their assignments of securing the FCT.

Also addressing journalists, Chief of Staff to the Minister, Hon Chidi Amadi expressed appreciation to the media for its consistency in the reportage of the policies and programmes of the FCT Administration.