Senate May Summon el-Rufai Over C of O Withdrawal
Minister denies revocation
From Kola Ologbondiyan and Andy Ekugo in Abuja
Senate may summon Federal Capital Territory Minister, Mallam Nasir el-Rufai, over the announced withdrawal of all Certificates of Occupancy (C of O) totalling about 20, 000 plots of land issued in respect of landed property in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
This is just as el-Rufai refuted the media reports (not THISDAY) that the Federal Government has revoked all Certificates of Occupancy issued since the inception of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT). The chairman, Senate Committee on Banking, Insurance and other Financial Institutions, Senator Farouk Bunza-Bello (ANPP, Kebbi State), who revealed the need to summon the Minister yesterday, said the issue of revocation of all C of O "is not an issue the Senate would sleep over."
"The Senate Committee on FCT would have to invite the minister to state the rationale behind his action," the senator said.
"The revocation affects all the residents of Abuja and such people would sought to know from their elected representatives why such pains should be visited on them after election their representatives to the upper legislative house.
"I think the FCT Minister would have considered it auspicious to raise such an important and contentious issue with the National Assembly considering the fact that the this body legislates for the FCT.
"We (National Assembly) recently considered the FCT Budget 2004 and the issue of re-certification of C of Os was never discussed. I think it is most unfortunate that the FCT Minister would take such action without first discussing it with the National Assembly, if nothing, it would enhance the cordial relationship existing between the National Assembly and FCT", he said.
However, the FCT Minister In a press release yesterday, in Abuja said what the ministry did was "a withdrawal of all certificates, evidencing titles, to enable the ministry re-issue new Certificates of Occupancy, which will be difficult to forge".
The re-issuance, he added, became necessary because of the just concluded computerisation of land records in the FCT, geared towards streamlining and providing more secured title deed to all lands allocated within the FCT.
He expressed dismay at the "brazen misinterpretation of the contents of the press briefing he addressed," saying t"such misinterpretations are capable of causing socio economic disharmony in the country".
el-Rufai urged the public not to panic over the issue as the protection of public interest was paramount to the enactment of the policy.
|
