Minister of the Federal Capital Territory Nyesom Wike has revoked land titles belonging to a foundation named after former President Muhammadu Buhari, as well as those of former Chief Justice of Nigeria Walter Onnoghen, and Secretary to the Government of the Federation Senator George Akume.
The Federal Capital Territory Administration had, in October, threatened to revoke the Certificates of Occupancy of plots of land owned by individuals and corporate organisations in Abuja.
However, Buhari’s spokesman, Garba Shehu, said his principal was not the owner of the plot allocated to the Foundation named after him.
In its notice published on Friday, October 5, 2024, the FCTA issued a two-week ultimatum to landowners in the Maitama District of Abuja, and asked them to settle outstanding payments for their C of O or risk losing rights to their property.
In two separate notices published by the FCTA Thursday, Wike revoked the ownership of 762 plots of land in the highbrow Maitama District over non-payment of statutory fees.
According to him, the affected persons also failed to pay for their C-of-O documents for the seized plots.
To this end, the Administration threatened withdrawal of the Rights of Occupancy of 614 other individuals as well as corporate organisations, if they failed to comply and pay outstanding bills in respect of the plots within two weeks.
The notice read: “The Federal Capital Territory Administration wishes to inform the allottee(s)/title holder(s) of plots of land in Maitama 1 who have failed to make payment for their Certificate of Occupancy (C-of-O) bills that their Right of Occupancy to the land/property has been withdrawn.
“This action was taken under Section 28 of the Land Use Act of 1978, which empowers the minister to revoke rights of occupancy for non-compliance with payment obligations or breach of other allocation terms.”
The C-of-Os revoked include those of the Muhammadu Buhari Trust Foundation, former Chief Justice of Nigeria Walter Onnoghen; Speaker of the House of Representatives, Abbas Tajudeen; Secretary to the Government of the Federation, George Akume, and his wife, Regina Akume; and Kaduna state Governor Uba Sani.
The list also includes those of former and serving lawmakers namely; Senate Chief Whip Tahir Monguno, former Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives Chibudom Nwuche, and former Senate Leader Teslim Folarin, former member House of Representatives, Nnenna Ukeje, and former Senators Andy Uba and Smart Adeyemi.
…FCT-IRS gears for 2025
Meanwhile, the Federal Capital Territory Internal Revenue Service (FCT-IRS), has announced a 19.8% increase in revenue collection for 2024, surpassing its target and setting the stage for ambitious plans in 2025.
Speaking during the end of the year parley Thursday in Abuja, the Acting Executive Chairman of FCT-IRS, Michael Ango, reflected on the agency’s progress and outlined a transformative roadmap.
“This year, we recorded a total revenue collection of ₦252.8 billion, surpassing our target of ₦250.2 billion,” Ango revealed. “This marks a significant leap from last year’s ₦211.1 billion, and it reflects the tireless efforts of our team, the support of the FCT Administration, and the collaboration with other stakeholders,” he said.
Since his appointment in August 2024, Ango has introduced sweeping reforms to enhance efficiency and expand revenue streams. Notable initiatives include:
He created specialised departments such as Audit, Debt Management, and Enforcement, alongside a High Net Worth Individuals (HNI) Unit to boost compliance among affluent taxpayers.
Similarly, over 52 staff training programs were conducted in 2024, with a commitment to equipping all employees with laptops by mid-2025, as well as deployment of additional payment gateways and plans to establish tax kiosks in strategic locations to ease compliance.
Acknowledging the critical role of partnerships, Ango credited the support of the FCT minister, and the FCT Minister of State, Dr. Mariya Mahmoud, for driving the region’s development agenda.
He also lauded collaboration with the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS), Joint Tax Board (JTB), and Nigerian Financial Intelligence Unit (NFIU).
He said: “With infrastructural transformation in the FCT requiring robust funding, the FCT-IRS is set to implement aggressive enforcement measures against tax defaulters while prioritizing taxpayer education. The agency plans to introduce property taxes, entertainment levies, and betting taxes to diversify revenue sources.
“Our vision is anchored on four pillars: People, Processes, Platforms, and Partnerships. These will drive our reforms, ensuring transparency, accountability, and world-class service delivery.”
As the FCT-IRS prepares for a pivotal year, Ango urged the media and other stakeholders to sustain their support.
“We count on your partnership in 2025, a crucial year for the FCT and the nation,” he concluded, wishing all a Merry Christmas and a fruitful new year.
“The FCT-IRS is poised to not only exceed expectations but also redefine revenue administration in Nigeria’s capital city. With bold strategies and unwavering commitment, the agency is on track to become a model for fiscal efficiency in the nation,” Ango said.