The Federal Government has warned property owners in highbrow areas of the Federal Capital Territory, to clear their accumulated debts, as the fund will aid the government to fast-track the infrastructural development of the FCT.
While warning that it is not going to be business as usual, the Director of Information, Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA), Muhammad Sule disclosed that the team is fine-tuning legal documents to take property owners yet to pay, to court for prosecution, revocation, or forfeiture.
After the Coordinating Committee on the Recovery of Outstanding Ground Rents of N29,506,643,943 commenced work, FCTA announced that Landlords in Asokoro, Industrial Area II and Maitama Districts are the highest debtors in Abuja, owing about 30 percent of the total bill.
“Asokoro alone constitutes 10.67 percent of the defaulters while titleholders in Industrial Area II and Maitama Districts comprise 9.43 and 9.29 percent respectively.” Sule noted.
In a statement on Thursday, the official said those in Central Business Districts, Industrial Area I & Extension, and Wuse I & II owe 8.21, 5.18 percent, 5.1 percent, and 4.81 percent respectively.
Meanwhile, property owners in Garki I & II, Katampe and Jabi Districts are in default of 3.4 percent, 3 percent, 2.21 percent, and 2.15 percent respectively.
Landlords in Kukwaba, Gwarinpa I, Gudu, Kado, Karmo, Katampe Extension, Utako, Mabushi, Durumi, Daki-Biyu, Guzape, Jahi, Dutse, and Wuye owe various percentages.
Sule said the recovery committee is committed to carrying out its assignment as mandated by the FCT Administration, and all titleholders must honour their obligation to clear the debts.
The director stressed that it is moral and responsible for property owners to clear their outstanding “because it is not going to be business as usual”.
According to the him, “The government needs these funds to fast-track the infrastructural development of the Federal Capital Territory”.