FCT minster, Nyesom Wike, has approved the withdrawal and revocation of houses sold to Nigerians by the Federal Capital Territory Administration in 2005 but converted for commercial purposes.

The director, Department of Development Control, Mukhtar Galadima, disclosed this at a press conference in Abuja on Friday, October 20.

Galadima recalled that the federal government, under former president Olusegun Obasanjo, initiated the monetisation programme due to the cost of maintaining the houses.

The director explained that the houses were sold to the occupiers so that they could maintain them.

He, however, said that some of the beneficiaries converted the houses from residential to other uses.

Galadima maintained that this constitutes a lot of burden in terms of city administration and management adding that the FCTA can no longer condone.

“It is on this note that the minister has approved and directed that all owners of such properties should revert the use of the properties to its original and designated land use which is residential,” Galadima said.

“Failing to comply with this directive as from Nov. 1, the house is considered as revoked.

“We are given such persons and individuals to the end of October to revert to original uses, otherwise from Nov. 1, they should consider such properties as revoked and returned to FCTA.

“The minister has also directed that owners of properties, particularly along major streets that have converted their properties to other uses without approval should either revert to original use or pay contravention charges.

“Anyone that fails to comply with such a directive, the administration will take appropriate action, which may include revocation.

“It is on this note that we felt it wise to inform the public of the decision and directive of the FCT Administration with regards to the indiscriminate conversion of land uses in FCT.

“This is done to maintain the sanctity of the Abuja Master Plan.”