Allottees owing ground rent in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) now have up till December 14 to pay following the extension of the deadline for payment by FCT Minister Nyesom Wike.

The extension of time followed the expiration of the deadline earlier given by the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA).

FCTA expects to rake in over N30 billion from the grant rent payment.

“The administration is expecting over N30 billion from the grant rent payment”, the FCTA Director of Information, Muhammad Hazat Sule, told this reporter yesterday.

Wike had earlier given a final warning to defaulters of ground rent payments in the FCT, insisting that something would happen.

The minister had said: “something will surely happen, contrary to the erroneous assumption that the ground rent directive was an empty threat”.

In September, the FCTA published land titles of individuals, organisations, and agencies owing ground rent.

In the publication, the FCTA reminded allottees of lands within FCT of their obligations as stipulated in the Certificate of Occupancy (C of O) to pay in advance without demand from January 1 of each year.

The FCTA had warned that a breach or failure to comply with any or all of the terms stated in the Rights of Occupancy shall be liable to the revocation of the title.

Accordingly, additional time graciously approved and granted by the minister of the Federal Capital Territory after the expiration of the final notice is the 14^thof December 2023.

The minister, according to Sule restated: “The FCTA wishes to remind the general public of the final notice given for settlement of outstanding ground rents and to note that the grace period has elapsed, thus paving way for enforcement of attendant sanctions.”

“In consideration of the sustained response from affected allottees and in order not to disenfranchise those who are still on queue for collection of ground rent bill and are eager to pay, the minster, FCT has graciously approved that additional time be granted from the expiration of the final notice to 14^thof December, 2023.” (The Nation: Text, Excluding Headline)