FCT Minister Nyesom Wike has approved and imposed a fine of N5 million, payable within a 30-day period, on allottees and land title holders who have contravened the Land Use Act in the FCT.

Mr Wike gave the approval after receiving a report from the Committee set up to address the abuse of the Land Use Act in the FCT, in his office, on Tuesday. He also assented to a 7.5 per cent charge on the Assessed Capital Value of properties converted without the knowledge or express permission of the FCT administration, also payable within 30 days.

Mr Wike said that if such people are not sanctioned,they would continue to default.

The chairman of the Land Use and Purposes Clause committee, Mukhtar Galadima, stated that the committee found many properties in certain areas had been converted from their original purposes.

Mr Galadima, who is also the director of Development Control, listed areas such 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,” said Mr Galadima. “The total capital value of the said properties amounted to N1,037,478,716,500.”

Mr 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 has been established, the allottee/title holder of the property,pay within 30 days from the date of conveyance of approval.”

Mr Galadima stated that the extension, merger, and subdivision fee, currently 2.0 percent of the assessed Capital Value of the properties as outlined in the Schedule/Valuation Report Sheet, would also be paid.

(NAN)