The Minister of Housing and Urban Development, Arc. Ahmed Dangiwa has told federal Certificate of Occupancy (CofO) title owners to pay their ground rent or have their titles revoked.
The minsiter stated this on Wednesday in Abuja at 29th Conference of Directors of Lands in the Federal and State Ministries, Departments and Agencies.
Dangiwa said, “The Federal Ministry of Housing and Urban Development is aware that several owners of its titled properties have failed to pay ground rent and other statutory charges to the Ministry for several years now. This non-compliance has resulted in the loss of trillions of naira in revenue to the Federal Government.
Under the Renewed Hope Agenda of His Excellency, President Bola Ahmed, Tinubu, this cannot be tolerated as this revenue is much needed to deliver the Renewed Hope Agenda to Nigerians.”
He further directed that “All Federal CofO title owners are given a 60-day notice to settle all outstanding ground rent and statutory charges. Failure to make payment within this period will result in the revocation of their CofO.”
The minister further stated that the ministry had observed activities of various residents associations of Federal Government landed properties preventing ministry staff from accessing the estates for billing purposes and enforcement of non-payments.
He further warned such associations to comply with the terms and conditions outlined in their respective CofOs, saying failure to adhere to these requirements would attract the appropriate penalties and sanctions.
