The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has approved the issuance of fresh Certificates of Occupancy (C-of-O) for 374 properties in Abuja that were found to have been illegally converted from their original land-use purpose.
The move, according to the FCT Administration, is part of ongoing efforts to sanitize land administration in the nation’s capital and restore order to Abuja’s masterplan, which has often been distorted by indiscriminate property conversions.
Wike, who disclosed this at a briefing in Abuja on Monday, said the decision followed a thorough verification exercise carried out by the Department of Lands and Urban Development. He noted that several property owners had converted residential plots to commercial use without proper approval, thereby violating zoning regulations.
“Abuja is a planned city, and we cannot continue to allow people distort its masterplan for selfish reasons. Many properties were converted illegally, some into nightclubs, hotels, schools, and other uses that were never approved. What we have done is to regularize those that qualify and reissue proper certificates,” the minister said.
He explained that the 374 affected properties were granted fresh C-of-Os after meeting laid-down requirements and paying the necessary penalties. However, he warned that any future attempts to alter land-use provisions without approval would lead to outright revocation.
Wike emphasized that the reissuance of C-of-Os would help boost the FCT’s internally generated revenue while giving property owners legal security and clarity on the status of their assets.
Officials of the Abuja Geographic Information System (AGIS) confirmed that the new certificates would capture corrected land-use details and ensure that property owners remain compliant with planning regulations.
Urban development experts have described the move as a bold step towards restoring discipline in Abuja’s development control process, urging the administration to sustain the enforcement drive to prevent future distortions.
