In a significant move, Barrister Ezenwo Nyesom Wike, the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, inaugurated a Task Force on Tuesday, aimed at overseeing the issuance of Certificates of Occupancy (C of O) for mass housing developments and ensuring the recovery of land use contravention fees in the FCT.
Chaired by Senior Special Assistant Michael O. Chinda, the Task Force, granted one month to complete its assignment, will work alongside key FCT departments, including Lands, Urban and Regional Planning, and Mass Housing. The Minister emphasized that the primary goal is to guarantee that every house in Mass Housing Estates obtains a C of O, with allottees bearing the associated costs.
The Task Force is also tasked with imposing penalties on those who have violated land use regulations, addressing the issue of residential allocations being diverted for commercial purposes. Minister Wike stressed the need for controlled development activities in adherence to the law while acknowledging the FCT’s pursuit of revenue generation for projects.
Wike further directed the Task Force to assist land allottees in Area Councils lacking proper documentation, urging them to publicize the necessary fees for obtaining certificates. Expressing concern over land allocated for mass housing being sold off instead, the Minister underscored the importance of the Task Force’s diligence and announced that Zenith Bank Plc would fund its activities.
Emphasizing his zero-tolerance policy for defaulters, Wike warned against pleas for leniency, citing the FCT’s reliance on internally generated revenue for development projects. He specifically instructed the Task Force not to entertain requests for intervention.
The Chairman of the Task Force, ESV Michael Chinda, pledged precision, diligence, and professionalism in executing the assignment. Commending Minister Wike for efforts to sanitize land administration, Chinda highlighted the significance of Certificates of Occupancy in legitimizing property ownership and warned of strict enforcement against those contravening land use regulations in the FCT.
