Fear Grips FCT Developers Over Wike’s Threat To Demolish Illegal Structures
It is a season of anxiety and palpable fear for developers following the threats issued by Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, to immediately go after all illegal structures distorting the nation’s capital masterplan
Arising from the inaugural address warning that property currently in unauthorized locations will go down and undeveloped plots revoked under his watch, competent sources said developers and land speculators in the territory have begun round-the-clock engagements with relevant authorities to get their acts right.
Consequently, Forefront News gathered that within hours after the Minister’s threat, the Abuja Geographic Information Systems (AGIS) suddenly became a beehive of activities with floodgates of inquiries from developers and high-profile individuals concerning Certificates-of-Occupancy and other certificate-evidencing titles; Right-of-Occupancy; and Titled Deed Plan (TDP) among other relevant documents.
Our usual competent sources hinted that the apprehension in the Abuja building industry is real in the air and as one developer puts it, “Going by Wike’s antecedents as the immediate past Governor of Rivers State, taking his threat as a joke would be at one’s peril”.
Barrister Wike, while speaking at the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) office on Monday following his swearing-in as the FCT Minister, had warned that there will be no sacred cows when the bulldozers start rumbling to take out all houses and structures erected through unlawful engagements and compromised processes over the years.
Flanked by the Minister of State (FCT), Mariya Mahmud, the former Rivers State Governor vowed to move against structures obstructing the Abuja master plan, saying; “People who are distorting the master plan of Abuja, too bad… Refuse everywhere. Those being paid for refuse collection, what are they doing?
“So, we must also sit down to look at different ways of waste disposal. It is very key. All those people distorting the master plan of Abuja, too bad.. if you know you have built where you are not supposed to build, it will go down, be you a minister or an ambassador. If you know you have developed where you are not supposed to develop your house must go down.
“Those who have taken over the green area to build, sorry the green area must come back. So, If you know you have anybody who is involved, anyone that has taken over the green areas and the parks to restaurants, we won’t accept that. If you hate green, you must hate yourself.
“Sorry, if your father or your mother has done that, there is nothing I can do. The period of land racketeering is over; those government has given C of O and they refuse to develop, the land is gone. I’m going to revoke them. We will take back the land and give it to those who want to develop.”
On whether the demolition threat is not a witch-hunt against his perceived political enemies, Barrister Wike said his task was to return the capital territory to what it used to be, rather than as a witch-hunt against anyone, adding; “Say the truth, you don’t like those who step on toes. I will step on toes. The big and mighty, I will step on them. If you are doing what is wrong, I will do what I am supposed to do”.
Also addressing the issue of non-payment of ground rent by house owners in the FCT, the Minister said; “Those of you who also have refused to pay your ground rent. non-payment of ground rent is a breach of the covenant. Abuja needs money too. The source of the revenue includes ground rent. So, if you have not paid, I won’t be tired to revoke.”
