By DAYO ADESULU
Minister Dangiwa warns non-compliant Federal Certificate of Occupancy titleholders to settle dues or risk losing their land titles as the government clamps down on unpaid ground rents.
The Federal Ministry of Housing and Urban Development has issued a 60-day ultimatum for all Federal Certificate of Occupancy (C of O) titleholders to settle outstanding debts, including unpaid ground rents and statutory charges, or face the revocation of their land titles.
This warning was delivered by the Minister of Housing and Urban Development, Ahmed Dangiwa, during the 29th Conference of Directors of Lands, held in Abuja on Wednesday. Addressing the gathering, Dangiwa outlined the significant losses the government has incurred due to the failure of many landowners to comply with payment obligations.
Major Revenue Loss Due to Non-Compliance
Dangiwa emphasized the theme of the conference, “Equitable Land Stewardship: Challenges of Land Administration and Its Impact on Climate Change and Community Rights,” and noted that non-compliance with land-related payments is undermining the federal government’s ability to maximize revenue from its vast land assets. He revealed that trillions of naira in revenue have been lost due to unpaid ground rents and statutory fees.
“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,” Dangiwa said.
Deadline and Consequences
Dangiwa issued a clear ultimatum: “All Federal C of O title owners are hereby 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 C of Os.”
He further warned residential associations against obstructing Ministry officials from entering estates for billing and enforcement purposes, stating that such actions would lead to penalties.
### Stakeholders Call for Reform in Land Administration
The conference, attended by land administration stakeholders, also featured an address by the Permanent Secretary, Dr. Marcus Ogunbiyi, who highlighted the importance of effective land management in tackling issues like urbanisation, food security, and environmental sustainability.
“Land is a fundamental resource for development; how we manage and steward this resource has profound implications for economic growth, environmental sustainability, and social equity,” Ogunbiyi said.
Collective Action Required
Director of Lands and Housing Development Department, Collins Alabi, encouraged active collaboration among participants to develop long-lasting solutions for land administration reform. He noted the critical role land plays in shaping the lives of individuals, communities, and the environment.
Dangiwa, concluding his address, urged stakeholders to move beyond dialogue and take concrete actions to reform land management practices. “If we are to adopt this practical approach, then we may also need to consider tweaking the structure of our Annual Conferences to make them more results-oriented,” he said.
The ultimatum represents a significant push by the federal government to enforce compliance with land administration regulations and boost revenue generation in line with the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Tinubu.
