Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister, Nyesom Wike has issued a strong warning to those defaulting ground rent payment in the FCT.

Wike said: “Something will surely happen contrary to the erroneous assumption that the ground rent directive was an empty threat.”

“The law was there before I came. The only problem is applying the law. The Minister of State and I have the capacity and political will to do what is right.”

“You know Nigerians are funny, believing that nothing will happen. Something will happen. We can’t continue that way; we can’t.”

“We have given defaulters a final notice to go and pay and they said it is initial “garagara” (false bravery). Something will happen.”

“By the time we give the final notice, and you don’t pay, the law will be applied.”

“FCTA is able to save significant Internally Generated Revenue since the removal of the Administration from the Treasury Single Account, the era of abandoned projects in the FCT is over.”

“Some of the harsh decisions being taken by the FCTA is for the good of all in the long run, the government will step on toes in the efforts to right the wrongs in the FCT.”

For those who don’t know, the FCT Administration had in September published land titles of individuals, organisations and agencies owing ground rent.

In the publication, the FCTA reminded allottees of lands within FCT of their obligations as stipulated in the Certificate of Occupancy (C of O) to pay in advance without demand from January 1 of each year.

The FCTA warned that a breach or failure to comply with any or all of the terms stated in the Rights of Occupancy would be liable to the revocation of the title.

However, the administration advised all allottees, property owners and beneficiaries of the sale of Federal Government houses in the FCT to settle their outstanding ground rents or lose their titles.