I Have Saved N110bn In FCT, Says Wike

Minister of Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike has said he has saved N110 billion for the administration in three months.

Wike, who made this known when he held a high-level meeting with estate developers in Abuja, expressed displeasure over the rate at which fake Certificate of Occupancy (C of O) are given through land process and bad eggs in the administration also added that N5 million will be paid to acquire a C of O.

He said it will not be business as usual, where three or more people will be allocated the same plot of land with fake C of O, making reference to when he was governor of Rivers State, that he was given a fake C of O by some officials of the FCTA.

The minister also faulted the payment of N8.9 billion as monthly salary FCTA, FCDA workers.

The developers unanimously on their part pleaded with the Minister to reduce the N5 million payment for C of O.

After intensive appeal by the developers, the minister said the payment can be made within four months after which the C of O can be handed over to the applicant. 

“I have saved N110 billion for FCTA since my assumption of office three months ago. Allocation of lands to three more persons will no longer be allowed. C of O enables you to do business.

“When we make the right decision some people will be happy some will not. We are ready for such a fight.

“When I was governor of Rivers State, 3 C of Os were given by FCT on my land and we later discovered that the C of Os given to us where fake after we had paid N57 million for the lands,” he said.

The minister further said he will seek President Tinubu’s permission to link any C of O to NIN number, saying that the rich men will kick against it, but anything that will help Nigerians must be done.

“Support these moves. You will attest to the fact that there are changes. How will you feel that at the end of the day you have a C of O but it is fake. Over 10 years some people have not paid now the 5 million looks big for them.

“Do you know that FCTA workers’ salary is N8. 9 billion monthly. I was shocked about this. The 2024 national budget of FCT is N17 billion.

“We are trying to provide a city that is to be proud of. We have considered that we will spread it by four months to pay the N5 million,” he said.