FCTA Set to Recover N29 Billion Ground Rent, Defaulters To Forfeit Property
The Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA), has initiated processes to recover 29 billion Naira owed it as ground rent by land allottees in the Federal Capital Territory.
This was stated by the General Counsel and Secretary of the Legal Services Secretariat of the FCTA, Barrister Mohammed Babangida following the FCT Executive Committee meeting held on Monday, which was chaired by the FCT Minister, Muhammad Musa Bello.
Barrister Babangida said the recovery of the funds will be carried out through the instrumentality of the courts.
According to him, “The Land Use Act allows us to recover ground rents through the Magistrate Court. 29Billion Naira is a lot of money that can be used to build infrastructure and improve services for the teeming residents of the FCT who require these services and whose welfare is the cardinal objective and concern of the present administration”.
He added “It is our intention that very soon, debtors and people who are recalcitrant, who have refused to pay their ground rents and other rents due and payable to the FCT Administration, will be made to do so by being sued to court and if they don’t pay, may forfeit their titles on such land.”
He urged residents who are yet to pay their ground rents to do so or risk the prescribed penalties.
“We know that budgetary allocations are not enough and you have a duty to pay. After all, these lands are worth a lot of money. So why don’t you just take a bit of it and simply pay your liability” the GC concluded.
