The Federal Government has issued a stern 60-day notice to all owners of its titled properties, demanding the payment of outstanding ground rent and other statutory charges.
Failure to comply will result in the revocation of their Certificates of Occupancy (C of O), according to the Minister of Housing and Urban Development, Ahmed Dangiwa.
The announcement was made on Wednesday, October 23, 2024, during the 29th Conference of Directors of Lands in Abuja.
The theme of the conference, “Equitable Land Stewardship: Challenges of Land Administration and Its Impact on Climate and Community Rights,” provided the backdrop for the minister’s critical address.
“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 for several years,” Dangiwa said.
He expressed concern over the financial losses this has caused the Federal Government.
“This non-compliance has resulted in the loss of trillions of Naira in revenue to the Federal Government,” he added.
The failure of property owners to meet their payment obligations has placed a significant burden on the Federal Government’s finances.
Under President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, the government has emphasized the need for increased revenue generation to fund its development plans.
Dangiwa stressed that the funds owed by property owners are crucial for the success of this agenda.
“This revenue is much needed to deliver the Renewed Hope Agenda to Nigerians,” the minister stated firmly.
As a result, the Federal Government can no longer tolerate non-compliance.
Dangiwa made it clear that all federal Certificate of Occupancy holders must settle their outstanding ground rent and statutory charges within 60 days.
“Failure to make payment within this period will result in the revocation of their C of Os,” he warned.
The minister also pointed to broader issues affecting land administration in Nigeria, stating that the country is in a “state of emergency.”
He said this emergency touches on several areas, including land administration, the economy, security, and social development.
One of the challenges facing the government, Dangiwa noted, is the obstruction of Ministry workers by various resident associations.
These associations, located on federal lands, have been preventing officials from accessing estates to enforce billing and payment collection.
Dangiwa warned these associations to desist from obstructing government workers and comply with the terms outlined in their Certificates of Occupancy.
“Failure to adhere to these requirements will attract the appropriate penalties and sanctions,” he cautioned.
The Minister of Housing and Urban Development also used the occasion to highlight the Ministry’s efforts to modernize land administration through technology.
Dangiwa spoke about the introduction of the Electronic Certificate of Occupancy (e-C of O) system, which has been designed to simplify the process of land titling.
The e-C of O system includes a web-based Advanced Workflow System (WNABS) and an Electronic Documentation Management System (EDMS).
This digital system streamlines the review, approval, and issuance of Certificates of Occupancy.
“The new system has significantly reduced administrative bottlenecks and processing times for federal land applications,” Dangiwa explained.
As of October 2024, the Ministry had digitally approved over 600 e-C of O applications, with plans to clear the backlog before the end of the year.
“This initiative will be integrated within the larger framework of the national land titling program that we are implementing with the World Bank and other partners,” the minister added.
At the conference, Dr. Marcus Ogunbiyi, the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Housing and Urban Development, spoke on the importance of sustainable land use in the face of climate change.
Ogunbiyi stressed that land use decisions must prioritize sustainability in order to protect biodiversity and secure vital natural resources for future generations.
He explained that land is not only an economic asset but also holds deep cultural and social significance for many communities across Africa.
“Land tenure is closely tied to identity, heritage, and community cohesion,” Ogunbiyi stated.
However, he pointed out that inadequate or inequitable land management practices have often led to the marginalization or displacement of rural and indigenous communities.
“Unfortunately, in many cases, communities, especially rural and indigenous ones, are displaced or marginalized due to inadequate land management practices,” Ogunbiyi said.
He urged authorities to ensure that the rights of these communities are safeguarded in the pursuit of development.
