Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) has warned that over 9,671 title owners who failed to pay their ground rents in 2023 are at the risk of losing their lands if they fail to pay within two weeks.
Top on the list are foreign embassies, who the administration said are owing over $5.3 million .
Others, according to a publication in national dailies signed by Muhammad Hazat Sule, FCTA's director of information and communication, included companies and individuals, who are collectedly owing N2,205, 079,937.
he said, "The FCT Administration hereby reminds the general public, particularly allotees of land(s) within the FCT of their obligation to the FCTA as stipulated in the covenanted terms of the Certificate of Occupancy to wit 'to pay in advance, without demand to the Honorable Minister, FCT, the annual ground rent from the first day of January of each year.
"All allotees, property owners as well as beneficiaries of the sale of Federal Government Houses in the FCT who could not pay or settle their outstanding ground rents for the year 2023, are hereby advised in their interest to ensure payment within two (2) weeks from the date of this publication, failure of which such titles shall be revoked," it reads.
Meanwhile, the FCT minister, Nyesom Wike, hasy urged the elite and residents of the nation's capital to pay their taxes and ground rents to allow for adequate funding of projects and infrastructure development in the territory.
The minister made the plea during the inspection of ongoing projects, including the Vice President's residence under construction by Julius Berger Construction; the Asokoro and Area 1 Roundabouts on the Outer Southern Expressway being constructed by CGC Construction; Wuye Bridge under construction by Arab Contractors Limited; and road D6 and B12, being handled by Julius Berger.
"First of all, whether inflation or not, that's why we are here, to solve problems. With the taxes people pay, we try as much as we can, to allocate it to the priority projects. Again, we don't allow variation. Why? Because we also try to pay as at when due, so the issue of variation does not come in," he stated.
The minister also called for the support of residents of the FCT, noting that the paid taxes and ground rents were being managed judiciously to ensure the delivery of various projects.
