Why we withdrew Abuja land titles, by minister
From Okumephuna Chukwunwike (Abuja)
FEDERAL Capital Territory (FCT) Minister, Mallam Nasir el-Rufai has defended the withdrawal of Certificates of Occupancy (C of O) in the territory and debunked claim that he has revoked the documents.
According to him, the main reason behind the exercise was to ensure an easy, fraud-free and more transparent land deals in the territory as a result of lessons learnt from the previous manners plots were fraudulently sold and acquired.
He stated that contrary to rumour being peddled in some quarters, there was never a time he revoked the certificates "rather what we did was to withdraw all of them to enable us systematically re-issue new ones for more transparency and confidence in land deals."
The minister made this clarification at the weekend in his address at maiden edition of ADKAN Win-a-House Promo Raffle Draw held at the Rockview Hotels in Abuja.
He said: "As you are no doubt aware, the ongoing reforms of existing laws and regulations in FCT are intended to make it possible to secure land titles easily and to register them properly.
"My ministry has consequently computerised our land Registry. We are also re-certifying Certificates of Occupancy to ensure transparency and to eliminate land speculations."
El-Rufai said that one of the most important elements of the land reforms policy was its consideration of the private sector, especially those interested in establishing small, medium and large-scale industries and commercial enterprises, which he said would go a long way in creating more employment opportunities for the youths.
He assured that his ministry is working towards providing all primary infrastructures, not only in the FCT but also in the adjoining satellite towns in order to prove to the private sector that government is desirous of providing the enabling environment needed to participate in the development of the territory.
He also condemned the high interest rate being charged the private developers by banks and its impact on house rents in the territory and called for its downward review so as to quicken the development of the FCT.
The minister said: "Owing to the economic situation in the country, it is no secret that private developers are under heavy financial burden. The astronomical interest rates charged by lending financial institutions have been blamed for the high rents charged by landlords in Abuja. This situation has forced civil servants not accommodated in official quarters, to devote as much as 70 per cent of their income to pay for rents. The result is that life is miserable for such officers and their families.
"It is for this reason that I appeal to lending financial institutions to encourage willing private developers by charging lower interest rates, so as to join hands with government to build more houses for the ever-increasing population of the Federal Capital Territory".
Describing housing as one of the greatest problems facing Abuja and the nation today, the minister called on the private developers to join hands with the government to confront the problem before 2015, the year targeted to achieve the Millennium Development Goals.
He commended the management of ADKAN Services Limited for taking the bull by the horn, expressing the readiness of his ministry to render help to the company whenever they need it.
Highpoint of the occasion include the ADKAN Raffle Draw Promo, which saw Mrs. Bola Ode Martins of Area Two, Abuja, winning the first prize of four bedroom Flat, one storey building at Gwarimpa Estate in Abuja with ticket number 0015012.
