The Minister of Housing and Urban Development, Ahmed Dangiwa, has urged land and house owners, in areas belonging to the federal government in Lagos State, to pay their ground rent.
Ahmed Dangiwa said no estate management or committee has the right to collect ground rent from residents, land, or house owners in areas owned by the federal government.
He stated this on Friday during a stakeholder-citizens engagement on land administration and a physical assessment of Banana Island, Osborne Phase One and Two, Park View/ Foreshore estates and shorelines.
According to the Nation, Dangiwa reiterated the government’s commitment to renovating, safeguarding and optimizing the value of its assets nationwide, stating that it would enforce strict compliance to its land and estates administration laws.
“The Ministry is resolved to ensure strict adherence to the provisions of the law regarding the control and administration of its assets to maintain order.”
Addressing fees that can be collected in the estates belonging to the federal government, Dangiwa said facility management fees can be collected by estate management.
“This is known to be the facility management fees which all estates usually charge in order to maintain the estate, but they should not go beyond that to collecting ground rent from the occupants.
“The ground rent is meant for the Federal Government. If they are collecting it on our behalf, they should remit it fully, otherwise we are going to engage our own staff to do it or engage consultants to do so on our behalf,” he said.
Dangiwa also stated that his ministry would ensure facelift for all properties owned by the federal government.
“We have resolved to optimize these facilities and put them to good use so that they can provide value to the government and Nigerians.
“Our aim is to fast-track the completion of housing projects to increase the stock of affordable housing for Nigerians in Lagos,” he stated.
Speaking on irregular developments along the Lagos shoreline, Dangiwa disclosed that a one-month ultimatum had already been given to all developers on the shorelines.
“To curb these practices, the ministry issued a one-month ultimatum for all developers on shorelines to regularise their papers or risk having their properties revoked and demolished.
“We have observed numerous haphazard developments along the shoreline, where people have reclaimed and built on land without proper clearance or authorization. This is unacceptable,” Dangiwa added.