In just one month following the issuance of a two-week ultimatum by the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, urging property owners to settle their ground rent debts or face property revocation, the FCT has successfully recovered a staggering sum of N1 billion.
The directive from Minister Wike prompted a flurry of activity at the Abuja Geographic Information Systems (AGIS) headquarters, with property owners rushing to clear their outstanding debts.
Isiaku Ndatsu Alfa, the Acting Director of AGIS, reported a notable surge in ground rent payments since the Minister’s stern warning and the public disclosure of debtors. While collections between June and July were at a low point, the ground rent revenue saw a remarkable increase from August onwards, reaching N500 million initially and steadily climbing to over N1 billion.
As of September 17, 2023, ground rent collections had already reached a substantial N1.9 billion, with expectations of further growth by month’s end.
Alfa also unveiled plans to introduce an online payment portal for ground rent, certificates of occupancy (C of O), and other related transactions. This digital platform has already been developed and is set to be officially launched by the FCT Minister before the year’s end.
With these advancements, AGIS aims to streamline transactions, making them more convenient for property owners and ultimately boosting revenue collection for the FCT.
