The Federal Capital Territory administration under Minister Nyesom Wike has dismissed pervasive allegations of land grabbing in Abuja.
Mr. Lere Olayinka, Senior Special Assistant on Public Communications and New Media to the Minister said every allegation must e backed by concrete evidence.
Olayinka addressed claims circulating on social media, which allege that the FCTA had seized land belonging to a construction company. He clarified that the land in question is located at Plot 2241, Gwarinpa District, Life Camp, Cadastral Zone C02, Abuja.
In a statement issued on Wednesday in Abuja, Olayinka urged those propagating the accusations to produce valid documents such as a Right of Occupancy, R of O or Certificate of Occupancy, C of O issued by the FCTA.
He alleged that the construction company, Paulosa Nigeria Ltd, occupied the land in 1984 under a temporary R of O granted for the establishment of a temporary office. Over 36 years, the company constructed permanent structures on the land and rented them out without obtaining government approval.
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He explained that in November 2020, the company applied for the conversion of its temporary R of O to a statutory R of O.
Approval was granted on February 1, 2023, on the condition that the company meets specific terms, including payment of ground rent and a premium.
The terms required the company to pay N50,000 per square meter per annum for ground rent from 2022 to 2023 (N2.33 million total), a premium of N500 per square meter (N11.66 million), and ground rent arrears from 1984 to 2021 (N43.14 million).
Despite these conditions, Olayinka noted that Paulosa Nigeria Ltd failed to comply within the 20-month timeframe prompting a revocation of earlier approval in October 10, 2024.
“To illustrate, if a student offered admission to a university fails to pay the fees and fulfill the terms, the student cannot claim enrollment,” Olayinka remarked.
He emphasized that Paulosa Nigeria Ltd never owned the land in question, he advised individuals spreading misinformation to verify claims before taking action.
Olayinka also criticized a legal practitioner who accused Minister Wike of land grabbing, noting that the individual failed to consult government agencies for accurate information. He pointed out that constructing a school or church on land allocated for recreational use is a clear violation of allocation conditions.
He urged activists and legal professionals to conduct proper investigations and avoid being used to mislead the public.
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