The Federal Capital Territory Administration has begun issuing land allocations to traditional rulers across the territory, in furtherance to fulfilling a pledge made to grant Certificates of Occupancy, CofOs, to Abuja’s indigenous communities.
The move comes weeks after FCT Minister Nyesom Wike, during a thank-you visit to the Abuja Municipal Area Council, assured traditional leaders that their ancestral communities would finally receive legal titles.
At a meeting with the FCT Council of Traditional Rulers in Abuja on Friday, Wike announced that the President had approved the allocation of lands to the chiefs and ordered the waiver of all statutory CofO fees to remove financial burden on them.
According to him, “The President also said that I should waive the payment of the statutory. The President said, how can you start paying? When ordinarily you are supposed to own the land. But because of government, it doesn’t appear that and it’s stripped off. So we cannot give you that tax to go and begin to look for money to pay. So that fee has been waived off.”
Wike directed the Director of Lands to immediately hand over the title documents to the rulers, describing it as part of a wider effort to restore recognition to the original inhabitants of the territory.
He said, “Yes, FCT by law would look as if people don’t own it, but we do know that people were here before the creation of the FCT as a free capital territory, so we cannot deny the fact that there are indigenous people.
“And we see the way people have been applying for land, so if those who are traditional rulers who make peace cannot also be appreciated by giving land, we give it to other people. The President said we must extend his hand of fellowship to you, that is also required, and from there we move on to other indigenes of FCT.”
The minister linked the decision to the traditional institution’s role in stabilising the territory, praising the chiefs for ensuring that the February 21st area council elections were the most peaceful in the FCT’s history.
“I think this is the first election that has been held in this FCT that was so peaceful without violence and I know you played a very major role,” he said.
Beyond land allocations, Wike announced that the administration would provide utility vehicles to all graded chiefs to support community engagement and conflict resolution efforts.
He said, “There are also people at the various levels that have been helping the government by making sure that peace reigns. And so we want to sincerely thank you. I assure you that we make everything possible to provide a utility vehicle for all of you, so that you’ll be able to carry out your duties as expected.”
Wike also highlighted ongoing satellite-town infrastructure projects scheduled for commissioning in June, insisting that development under the current administration would no longer be concentrated only in the city centre.
“The President believes that everything cannot be concentrated just in the city and so by June, the airport route to Kuje will have been commissioned and then the dualization phase will also be commissioned.
“I know the Paramount Rulers in Kuje will be very happy that by June, the airport route to Kuje will have been commissioned and then the dualization phase will also be commissioned. And the road from Gumani to Yanguji will also be commissioned. We’re already doing the one from Apo to Karishi and the one from Bwari to Kubwa and then the one you call Arab road Bazango will also be commissioned this June. So don’t be tired to make sure that you also have the positive impact on the government of Bola Ahmed Tinubu.”
Responding on behalf of the chiefs, the Chairman of the FCT Council of Chiefs and Ona of Abaji, Alhaji (Dr.) Adamu Baba Yunusa, expressed gratitude to the President and the FCT Minister, pledging continued support to the administration.
“I want to register my sincere appreciation to you for the elevations and for the allocation of land. We pray for successful tenure and blessings,” he stated.