Emmanuel OchayiMinister Nyesom Wike of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) has reduced the issuance fee for Certificates of Occupancy (C-of-Os) from N5 million to N3.5 million.
During his second monthly ministerial press briefing on Friday, Wike affirmed the revised fee, stating, “Issuance of Certificates of Occupancy will now cost N3.5 million, a reduction from the previously proposed cost of N5 million.”
Join our WhatsApp ChannelIn response to stakeholders’ concerns, Wike clarified, “Those who have C-of-O don’t need to pay this money. The highest you can pay is maybe N50,000 and for corporate bodies, maybe N100,000 because you already have C-of-O.”
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The decision, based on recommendations from a Task Force on mass housing estates and land use contravention fees, follows widespread objections to the initially proposed N5 million fee.
“The interface between estate developers and residents’ associations was pivotal in this decision,” said Wike, referencing discussions that led to the possibility of the fee reduction.
Furthermore, the former River State governor highlighted the integration of enhanced security features like National Identification Numbers (NIN) and Bank Verification Numbers (BVN) into the new certificates, aiming to curb fraud and ensure transparency.
Reflecting on the past, Wike had earlier disclosed the initial N5 million cost, outlining a plan to link applicants’ National Identification Numbers to C-of-Os before issuance, marking a shift from past practices where multiple individuals obtained fake C-of-Os for the same plot of land.
Emmanuel Ochayi is a journalist. He is a graduate of the University of Lagos, School of first choice and the nations pride. Emmanuel is keen on exploring writing angles in different areas, including Business, climate change, politics, Education, and others.
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