FCTA warns  owners of revoked land to stay away from plots

Favour Ishember, Abuja

authorities of the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) has vowed to take legal actions against  anyone found tampering with any of the already revoked land as approved by the FCT Minister.

This is as the officials of Development Control Department, FCTA led by its Director, Muktar Galadima  busted an attempt by  owners of revoked land in Maitama District to continue development on the sites despite revocation order placed on them.

The team accompanied by some  security agents confiscated building equipment found on the sites and chased away some workers  while others were  arrested majorly for profiling.

Recalled that the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike had revoked no fewer than 165 plots of land in the service Districts of the Federal Capital City over non -development.

The revocation order placed on the affected plots according to the minister was due to the continuous contravention of the terms of agreements as contained in section 28(5) (a) &(b) of the Land Use Act.

While responding to questions from journalists during the operation, the Director, Department of Development Control, Muktar Galadima disclosed that information reached his office that some owners of already revoked land are moving back to sites which according to him is in violation of the order.

According to him, ” Recently, FCTA has revoked some plots for non – development and also sent his last warning on abandoned buildings since December 2022, so, it is unfortunate that those revoked properties, some people are trying to come back and work on them particularly on weekend.

” So, we  are on this operation to ensure that all the revoked plots, nobody go back and work on them and also to use this opportunity to call on the public that any revoked properties that  somebody is trying to work on, definitely, the Administration will not only remove such structures but will ensure prosecution of the person involve.

” The revocation  just commenced last week and then we just got information that some people wanted to go back to sites, and we have already intimated our officials to be on watch out to make sure that nobody goes back to work, because any officials found wanting will be severely dealt with in accordance with the laid down civil service rules and regulations.

Regarding information that some of the affected properties owners may have gone to the Court to seek redress, he said: ” I am not aware of anything like that, if at all some have gone to the Court as you said, then I will live it to the Court to decide, but for now I am not aware of such, and even, the decision of court have to be communicated to the Administration for it to study it and decide if there is any need to review it or not.