The Federal Ministry of Housing and Urban Development has declared a 60-day ultimatum for all Federal Certificate of Occupancy title owners to settle their debts, warning that failure to comply would lead to the revocation of their titles.
This announcement was made by the Minister, Ahmed Dangiwa, during his address at the 29th Conference of Directors of Lands in Abuja on Wednesday.
Addressing the theme “Equitable Land Stewardship: Challenges of Land Administration and Its Impact on Climate Change and Community Rights,” Dangiwa highlighted the pressing issue of non-compliance among landowners.
“Before I conclude my address, I want to use this occasion to address pertinent issues that are hampering the ability of government to maximize the revenue earning potential of its landed assets,” he said.
He added, “The Federal Ministry of Housing and Urban Development is aware that several owners of its titled properties have failed to pay ground rent and other statutory charges to the Ministry for several years now.”
Dangiwa added “This non-compliance has resulted in the loss of trillions of naira in revenue to the Federal Government. Under the Renewed Hope Agenda of His Excellency, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, this cannot be tolerated as this revenue is much needed to deliver the Renewed Hope Agenda.”
“As such all Federal C of O title owners are hereby given a 60-day notice to settle all outstanding ground rent and statutory charges. Failure to make payment within this period will result in the revocation of their C of Os,” he said.
He also criticised resident associations obstructing Ministry officials from accessing estates for billing and enforcement, stating, “Failure to adhere to these requirements will attract the appropriate penalties and sanctions.”
The conference, attended by various stakeholders in land administration, also featured an address from the Permanent Secretary, Dr. Marcus Ogunbiyi, who emphasised the significance of effective land management in addressing food security, urbanisation, and environmental conservation.
“Land is a fundamental resource for development how we manage and steward this resource has profound implications for economic growth, environmental sustainability, and social equity,” he noted.
Both officials stressed the need for a collective approach to reform land administration and improve compliance.
Director of Lands and Housing Development Department, Collins Alabi, urged participants to be “mindful of the critical role land plays in the lives of individuals, communities, and our planet.”
“I encourage each of you to actively participate in the sessions, share your experiences, and collaborate toward the development of solutions that will shape the future of Land Administration for generations to come,” he added.
Dangiwa urged participants to shift from talk to action, stating, “If we are to adopt this practical approach, then we may also need to consider tweaking the structure of our Annual Conferences to make them more results-oriented.” (PUNCH)
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