The Senior Special Assistant on Strategic Communications to the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Lere Olayinka, has clarified that any land whose Certificate of Occupancy has been revoked by the Federal Capital Territory Administration automatically reverts to the minister, who acts as custodian on behalf of the President of Nigeria.
Okay News reports that Olayinka made this explanation during an interview on Arise News on Monday evening, where he provided a comprehensive update on the ongoing land title revocation exercise within the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja.
According to him, more than one thousand property titles have been affected after their owners failed to comply with statutory obligations, including settlement of accumulated ground rent, payment for land use conversion, and charges relating to the Certificate of Occupancy, despite a fourteen-day deadline that elapsed on November twenty-five.
Olayinka stated that compliance has remained significantly high even though some residents expressed concerns about the scale of the revocation. He noted that land use conversion payments achieved a compliance rate of about fifty per cent.
“We published 4,794 notices in May. As of today, more than 3,900 complied. That is more than 80%. So if you have 80% compliance, then you can say that people complied,” he explained.
He stressed that once a landholder violates the terms under which a Certificate of Occupancy is issued, the legal position is unambiguous.
“The minister has taken those 1,095 titles. Section 28, 5A and B of the Land Use Act is very clear. Contravention of any conditions set in the C of O is automatic for the future of that title. But the government is putting some level of human face and not punishing minor contraventions,” he said.
The presidential aide further explained that the Federal Capital Territory Administration cannot compel individuals to rectify their defaults if they deliberately refuse to comply.
“Some people probably choose not to comply based on reasons known to them, and the government would not be the one to force them to come and comply.
“If, as an examiner, you give an exam to 100 students and 80 students pass, the teacher cannot be blamed for the rest. People complied. Those who did not comply, maybe they know why, maybe they no longer need the properties,” he remarked.
Addressing allegations of underhand dealings in land documentation, Olayinka rejected suggestions of widespread malpractice but acknowledged that isolated collusion cannot be fully ruled out.
“Some of these things you see, I cannot rule out connivance inside. But government will not wake up tomorrow and say, This property no longer exists,” he said.
He disclosed that penalties for defaulters range from fines of two million naira to five million naira.
“Those who did conversion must first pay the penalty. Over 50% of the properties in this category have been captured. The government is still monitoring other areas,” he added.
Olayinka reiterated that the land administration process within Abuja remains clear and predictable for those who follow established guidelines.
“Property is predictable. If you get proper allocation, follow procedures, and submit building plans for approval, you will not have issues. The problem arises when people bypass rules and later blame the government,” he explained.
