By Nudoiba Ojen
The Federal Capital Territory (FCT) authorities have said that there is no going back on the withdrawal of the right of occupancy of some plots of land in Abuja.
Recall that FCT last Thursday published names of persons whose Right of Ownership to some plots of land in the capital city had been withdrawn.
The Special Adviser to the FCT Minister, Lere Olayinka, said that adequate grace had been given to those who were allocated plots of land but had declined to pay, adding that the withdrawal of the right of occupancy of defaulters on Thursday was final.
The minister’s aide said there were indications that the defaulters whose right of occupancy had been revoked no longer needed the land especially that it was an undeveloped area hence their decision not to pay.
He said, “For the ones whose names were published on Thursday, there is nothing that can be done to remedy the situation. The withdrawal of their right of occupancy is final.
“Remember that on October 5 last year, the names of over 3000 people that had not paid for their rights of occupancy were published. They were given two weeks to pay after which their allocation would be withdrawn.Out of that figure, over 2500 paid, leaving over 700.
“The government waited till December 18 last year and published the withdrawal of the right of occupancy of those over 700 people. Right of occupancy simply means that you have been allocated plot of land, so come and make payment.
“But owing to interventions here and there, two weeks’ grace was given, which lapsed January 3. The government again waited till yesterday (Thursday). If you look at between January 3 and January 16, you know about two weeks was also added.
“From the over 700 names published on December 18 last year, over 200 paid again, leaving us with over 500 whose names were published on Thursday on the final list of those who have failed to pay.
“Government cannot be going back and forth, final decision has to be taken at some point, this one is final. It is not as if there are buildings on the land, they are empty lands, buildings are not going to be demolished, there are no buildings there yet. That area in Maitama is an undeveloped area, people have not started building houses there”.
He said that since the Thursday publication, there had been no effort from any quarter to make the FCT authorities change its mind or to frustrate the withdrawal of the lands.
Olayinka said, “Even if they make effort whether to pay or whatever, such will amount to nothing because as at Thursday, based on that publication, they no longer have any allocation.
“At least for now, nobody is making any effort to frustrate our move. The only effort people had made was before now after the initial publications, that was the reason that the additional weeks were given.
“After the expiration of the two weeks on January 3, 2025, about two weeks from January 3 to January 16 was added.
“If after the publication of December 18 last year, they had another four weeks when they can make payment. It is as if they don’t need the land. It is a new area. Maybe some of them feel that they don’t need the land, is the reason they did not pay,” Olayinka said.
