Niger State Government has revoked the Certificate of Occupancies (CofO) of 650 companies, residential houses, banks, schools, churches, and commercial organizations for substantial non-compliance with the conditions of payment of ground rent and development.
The Coca-Cola Nigeria Bottling Company Limited, Matrix energy oil and gas, Anglican Diocese of Minna, Sudan Institute for Islamic and General Studies, Peace Mass Transit, and several banks were among those whose CofOs were revoked.
The revocation notice was stated in an advert placed by the Niger state Commissioner of Lands and Survey, Barrister Maurice Bello Magaji.
The advert stated, “Notice of revocation of Certificate of Occupancies for non-payment of ground rent and/or development in Niger state.
“By the Power conferred on the Governor, by section 9(3) of the Land Use Act, and the substantial non-compliance with the conditions of payment of ground rent and /or development within the stipulated time, the Niger State Ministry of Lands and Survey, Minna, hereby conveys the approval of the Governor of the revocation of the under listed Certificate of Occupancies”.
It would be recalled that a month ago, the Commissioner of Lands and Survey while speaking to newsmen had said that there are several organizations who have not paid ground rents for years and the government would take serious steps towards ensuring that the ground rents are collected.
The advertisement which was placed in The Nation Newspaper showed that PZ Nigeria Limited owed the highest amount of ground rent which stands at N3,350,000, while others with high amounts of ground rent include Alhaji Sani Karaye whose ground rent stands at N2,190,000, Al-imran Ind Ltd with ground rent at N1, 770,940, Union Bank, Niger state Housing Cooperation with ground rent of N1, 725,000.
Banks like Jaiz, GTB, UBA, FCMB, Zenith, First Bank, and Union Bank were affected; the Federal Medical Center Bida, Teachers Social Security Scheme (Endwell), Abuja Steel Mills, and some farmlands were also affected.
The billing period for some of the affected organizations or residential houses went as far back as 1992 in some of the major cities in Niger state which include Minna, Suleja, Bida, Kontagora, New Bussa, Mokwa while some minor towns like Tafa, Dikko, Dachi, Lambata, Sabon Wuse, and Lapai were also included.
