Wike Directs Land Owners To Recertify Their CofO’s, Fresh Application To Cost N3.5million

Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike,  has directed landowners with Certificate of Occupancy (C of O) to Re-Certify them.

Speaking on a live television programme,  Wike said the new C of O would require a National Identification Number (NIN) and Bank Verification Number (BVN).

The minister said since assumption of office, he had refrained from signing C-of-O’s because of the need to introduce enhanced security measures.

He said the new C of Os would cost individuals N50,000 and corporate bodies, N100,000 each.

He said, “There are a lot of discrepancies, a lot of cloning of C-of-Os, so we have come up with an idea that every allottee who seeks and applies for a C-of-O must supply his NIN; this is one of the features we are going to put in the new C-of-O.

“If a corporate body doesn’t have an NIN and they have a property, they must put their BVN. So many persons have not registered, and this will make them go and re-register.”

On the existing landlords with C-of-Os, Wike stated that they would only be required to pay a nominal fee for recertification.

“For everyone who has a C-of-O, they will come for a recertification, so that we can incorporate the NIN or BVN,” he said.

“Those who had a C-of-O before don’t need to pay money again; the highest they can pay is N50,000, and corporate bodies will pay N100,000. It helps in terms of security; it also helps to improve our revenue generation.”

He also hinted that the cost of obtaining a new C of O, which he initially penciled at N5m might be reduced to N3.5 million.