The Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) has issued a stern warning to prominent Nigerians and corporate organizations, threatening to revoke the Certificates of Occupancy (C-of-O) for plots of land in the Maitama District of Abuja.
The ultimatum comes as a result of outstanding payments that must be settled within two weeks.
In a notice addressed to 3,273 allottees of the plots, the FCTA outlined the urgency of the situation, emphasizing the need for compliance to avoid penalties.
The notice, titled “Demand Notice for Payment of Right of Occupancy Bills for Issuance of Certificates of Occupancy on All Lands Allocated at Maitama II District, Cadastral Zone A10, Abuja,” was obtained by Premium Times on Friday.
The announcement has sent ripples of concern among the affected landowners, many of whom are high-profile individuals and established corporations.
Among those listed as as owners of the plots are the Chief of Staff to the President, Femi Gbajabiamila, Speaker of the House of Representatives, Abbas Tajudeen, Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), George Akume, Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, former Senate President, Bukola Saraki, former Speaker of the House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara, and former Deputy Senate President, Ovie Omo-Agege,
Others are former Governors Theodore Orji (Abia), Rochas Okorocha (Abia), Ibikunle Amosun (Ogun), Tanko Al-Makura (Nasarawa), Joshua Dariye (Plateau),
Gabriel Suswam (Benue), Ibrahim Shekarau (Kano), Okezie Ikpeazu (Abia), Jonah Jang (Plateau), Seriake Dickson (Bayelsa), Adamu Muazu (Bauchi) and Bukar Abba Ibrahim (Yobe).
Minister of Sports, John Eno, Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Abubakar Kyari, and former Minister of Labour and Employment, Chris Nwabueze Nigige, were also listed.
Serving and former lawmakers on the list are Dino Melaye , Kabiru Marafa, Stella Oduah, Danjuma Goje, Ben Bruce , David Umaru, Saliu Mustapha, Biodun Olujimi, Andy Uba, Sunday Karimi, Olumide Osoba, Nicholas Ossai, Emmanuel Bwacha, Osita Izunaso, and the House Leader, Julius Ihonvbere, Wole Oke, Kabiru Gaya, Beni Lar, Leo Ogor, Darlington Nwokocha, Petet Nwaoboshi, Oker Jev, Lynda Ikpeazu, Khadijat Ibrahim, Obinna Chidoka, Philip Aduda, Smart Adeyemi, Chukwuka Utazi, Timothy Golu, Edward Pwajok, Ali Ndume, Ben Obi, Binta Garba, and Teslim Folarin.
Also on the list are a former National Chairman of the ruling APC, Adamu Abdullahi, Third Republic Senate President, Ameh Ebute, Yusuf Buhari and Zahra Buhari (both children of former President Muhammadu Buhari).
The FCTA said it issued the notice because it is carrying out infrastructural development in the district.
“The Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA), through the Federal Capital Development Authority (FCDA), is carrying out infrastructural development in Maitama II (A10) District.
“All allottees who have not paid their bills for the Certificate of Occupancy (C-of-O) are hereby advised to settle their bills in full within two (2) weeks from the date of this publication.
“All affected allottees are informed that failure to pay all outstanding land bills, rents, fees, and charges within the stipulated grace period will result in the withdrawal of the offers of Rights of Occupancy (R-of-O) over the said plots of land by the Honourable Minister of the FCT, and reallocation of the lands,” the notice said.