FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike, made this disclosure on Tuesday during an interview with journalists after inspection of ongoing projects in the nation’s capital.
The Minister said that the intention of his Administration was not to collect lands back from allottees, but for them to pay so that the funds would be used for development.
Wike emphasized that sufficient justice has been done to ensure compliance.
His words: “I don’t think we will do that (extending deadline). Like I have always said, Nigerians don’t like to comply. These allocations were done more than 10 years ago. It was not as if it was done during our own time, and you know Abuja does not have anything other than property to tax, for us to have development.”
He added: “So, we have been able to do justice by making sure that people are going to abide and comply. Our interest is not to have the lands back, our interest is for them to pay so we can use the funds for the development of the FCT.”
According to him, “Now we are talking about roads. How will you get the roads done without people complying and paying? So, we will not. I don’t think we will want to give another date of grace. After it expires, we will reallocate all those lands to other people who are interested.”
It would be recalled that the FCT Administration, had recently extended the deadline to two weeks, terminating on 3rd January, 2025.
Speaking on the projects inspected, Wike expressed optimism that judging from the quality and levels of work done on different sites, the contractors would keep to May deadline for completion.
Some of the projects, which are at different stages of completion, include Apo-Wassa road, Saburi Access road, Outer Southern Expressway II, and the Court of Appeal Division of Abuja, which is expected for completion by September 2025.
● By Abuja Digest per Wisdom Acka
