Abuja, Nigeria: In a decisive move to curb widespread violations of the Land Use Act, Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister, Nyesom Wike has approved a ₦5 million fine and a 7.5% property conversion charge for land title holders who have illegally altered the designated use of their properties.
The penalties, payable within 30 days, target defaulters who have converted residential plots to commercial or mixed-use without formal approval from the FCT administration
Wike approved the report from the Committee set up to address the abuse of the Land Use Act in the FCT, which he received in his office on Tuesday.
Speaking on the matter, Wike insists: “I am not going to leave anybody to go free. We are seeking funding to continue our projects. If you fall into our trap, it’s your business.
“We are trying to raise money for the FCT. But if you don’t want to, we will take back your title, sell it, and still raise money. You have to pay the penalty and pay for the conversion; they are two different things.
“I am aware that certain areas are designated for residential, and certain areas are designated for commercial.
“But people believing that they can do anything without approval from the government have changed residential to commercial, some have changed commercial to residential, and some have changed for all kinds of mixed uses.”
Wike said that if such people are not sanctioned, they would continue to default.
Also speaking, the Chairman of the Land Use and Purposes Clause committee, Mukhtar Galadima, said the Committee found that many properties in some areas have been converted from their original purposes.
Galadima, who is also the Director of Development Control, listed such areas as Ademola Adetokunbo Street, Aminu Kano Crescent, Yakubu Gowon Street, and Gana Street, among others.
“Those properties have been converted to residential, commercial or mixed usage, contravening the original agreements.
“The total capital value of the said properties amounted to N1,037,478,716,500.”
Galadima recommended various sanctions on the defaulting title holders, including sealing of property, removal of buildings and structures, revocation, and withdrawal of titles, if they failed to pay the fines.
“The Committee hereby recommends as follows: That, allottees/title holders of land and properties affected by the land use change/conversion, pay within 30 days from the date of conveyance of approval.
“They will also pay the Land Use Conversion fee of 7.5% of the assessed Capital Value of the properties as contained in the Schedule/Valuation Report Sheet.
“That, allottees/title holders of the land and properties affected by the land use change/conversion, in addition to payment of Land Use Conversion fee, pay statutory Right of Occupancy bills applicable for the new land use/purpose clause and as charged for the District;
“That, where illegal/unapproved extension, merger and subdivision have been established, the allottee/title holder of the property pays within 30 days from the date of conveyance of approval.”
Galadima said that the extension/merger/subdivision fee of the extant 2.0 per cent of the assessed Capital Value of the properties as contained in the Schedule/Valuation Report Sheet would also be paid.
