By PHILIP YATAI

Minister of Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Nyesom Wike has given owners of the 762 revoked plots of land in Maitama two-week grace to pay for their Certificates of Occupancy (C of O).

The owners of the plots, located in Maitama II, Cadastral Zone A10, Abuja, are expected to pay for their C of O or risk final revocation.

Mr Lere Olayinka, Senior Special Assistant on Public Communications and New Media, announced this in a statement in Abuja on Friday.

Olayinka explained that Wike?s primary interest was not for people to lose their lands, but to get them to make necessary payments due to the government.

He recalled that on Oct. 5, a list of 3,273 allottees and title holders that were yet to pay for their C of O were published.

He added that title holders were given two weeks to pay their bills or lose their Right of Occupancy (R of O) titles.

According to him, 2,511 out of the 3,273 allottees responded and settled their bills while the remaining 762 did not comply.

?Yesterday, a notice of withdrawal of the R of O titles of the 762 defaulters was published.

?Since then, many of the affected allottees have offered to pay, and since the primary aim of the government is to ensure payment, a two-week grace has been given.?

The spokesman said that the 762 allottees and the 614 others with outstanding payment of C of O have till Jan. 3, 2025, to pay, or have their R of O titles withdrawn.

This, he said, was pursuant to the provisions of Section 28 of the Land Use Act of 1978.

?After Jan. 3, there will be no further extension and withdrawal of the R of O titles of defaulters will be final,? he said. (NAN)

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