Wike Revokes Land Allocations of Bayelsa, Imo Governors, Senate Leaders, Others

The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has revoked the land allocations of 568 individuals, including high-profile politicians, over their failure to pay for their Certificates of Occupancy (C-of-O).

Among those affected are Bayelsa State Governor Senator Diri Douye, Imo State Governor Senator Hope Uzodimma, Senate Leader Opeyemi Bamidele, and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) National Secretary Senator Samuel Anyanwu. 

Other notable names include former Enugu State Governor Chimaroke Nnamani, Senate Minority Leader Abba Moro, Chairman of the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM) Hon. Abike Dabiri-Erewa, and federal lawmaker Hon. Oluwole Oke, among others.

According to a statement by Lere Olayinka, media aide to the FCT Minister, the revocation of the Right of Occupancy (R-of-O) was due to the expiration of an extended two-week grace period granted to defaulters to settle their C-of-O bills.

“The Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) wishes to inform the allottee(s)/title holder(s) of plot(s) of land in Maitama II, Cadastral Zone A10, Abuja, who have failed to make payment for their Certificate of Occupancy (C-of-O) bills after the expiration of the grace period granted by the Honourable Minister, Federal Capital Territory, that their Right of Occupancy to the land/property has been withdrawn,” the notice stated.

The revocation is in line with the provisions of Section 28 of the Land Use Act of 1978, which permits the withdrawal of land allocations if the terms of grant are violated.

It was revealed that in early October 2024, a total of 3,273 allottees were given two weeks to pay their C-of-O bills or face revocation. Out of this number, 2,511 complied. For the remaining 762 defaulters, an additional two-week grace period was granted, which expired on January 3, 2025. However, by January 15, only 194 of the 762 had paid, leaving 568 defaulters.

The FCTA clarified that allottees who had completed their payments by January 15, 2025, are not affected by the revocation. 

The statement emphasized, “The general public is, however, invited to note that allottees/title holders who have completed their payments on or before 15/01/2025 are not affected by this publication.”