The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Barrister Nyesom Wike, has stated that the revoked land belonging to the Nigerian Customs Service can only be sold back to the service at its current market value.
The minister made this statement in response to a request by the Nigerian Customs Service for reconsideration regarding its revoked land by the FCT Administration.
The request was presented during a visit by customs officers, led by the acting Comptroller-General, Adewale Adeniyi, in Abuja on Thursday.
Wike expressed displeasure with the situation, saying, “I read your letter on the revoked land, very bad; very bad; very bad, but what do I do?
When we gave you the land, you refused to use it. FCT will now sell it to you, and when we give you a Certificate of Ownership, you pay our ground rent. I will give you the opportunity to buy the land from FCT at the current market value.”
The acting Comptroller-General, Adewale Adeniyi, also requested land to build primary and secondary schools for the children of the more than 2,000 customs officers residing in the FCT.
In response, the Minister assured the customs boss that the request would be considered, but with the condition that the agency commit to developing the land within a specific period and paying ground rent. He emphasised that the land would be revoked if the agency failed to comply.
Wike stated, “Schools are very important. It is not only the children of customs officers who will attend the schools. My policy now is that, before we allocate land to any agency, it must commit to developing the land within a certain number of years.
If it is not developed, the FCT will take back the land. I will not allocate land that remains undeveloped. So, it would help if you convinced me that you are indeed serious about building schools for the children of your staff and our children.
Rest assured that I will approve the land for the school. You need to submit the application, and I will sign it, directing the director of lands to provide the land for your use.”
During the visit, the customs boss congratulated Wike on his appointment as FCT Minister and commended the outstanding work he has done. He noted that the customs service is a crucial stakeholder in the FCT, with over 2,000 officers residing there and contributing to the city’s development.
Adeniyi highlighted the need for quality education for the children of customs officers and requested land to establish primary and secondary schools for them.
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