The Executive Director of the Housing Development Advocacy Network (HDAN), Barrister Festus Adebayo, has called on the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Barrister Nyesom Wike, to focus more on property tax instead of housing demolition he is currently carrying out in the city centre.
Recall that Wike is enmeshed in controversy over the demolition notice issued to the estate, located on Plot 2241, Gwarimpa District, Lifecamp, Abuja.
The said property is said to belong to Paullosa Nigeria Limited an estate management company owned by the late Colonel Paul Ogbebor.
Adebayo, who spoke with journalists at the sideline of the sixth edition of the Africa Housing Award in Abuja on Saturday night, called on Wike to pay more attention to unoccupied houses in the FCT.
Specifically, he mentioned the recently confiscated 753 housing units in the Lokogoma area of Abuja allegedly linked to the former Central Bank Governor, Godwin Emefele, and asked the minister to impose tax on them.
Also, he urged the minister to impose a tax on all unoccupied houses in Maitama, Asokoro, and other areas in the FCT.
Adebayo said, “Recently, you all heard about what happened in Lokogoma. We heard someone who had been occupying a government position acquired 753 units of houses. How do you describe that? That is called money laundering. He got the money through illegal means.
“And he was putting it there. He did not get the money through banks. Where he would have to pay interest. He got the land also through the use of his position.
“And that is why we are saying we should get to the area of confiscating and acquiring those houses. If you know you don’t want to acquire them, when you see a property that is abandoned, please tell Wike, we need him to do more on property tax, not on demolition.
“All the empty houses in Maitama, Asokoro, put a tax on them. By the time they are paying a heavy bill, we will get the house out.”
On the late Ogbebor’s property, Adebayo who is also the Founder of the Africa International Housing Show, called on Wike to exercise restraints, saying that the minister should dialogue with the family.
Though he admitted that the law allows the minister to carry out the demolition, he said the Ogbebor’s case was exceptional, having occupied the property for over 40 years.
Adebayo said, “Imagine the case of the Ogbebor. She has been in that house for 40 years. There is no need for demolition. All that we need to do is to discuss. The bill has been served. Let the family of Ogbebor pay the bill.
“There is no need for demolition. That 40 years is enough to lay claim to that place. So what are the other ministers who came before Wike did? What have they done? Sincerely, he (Wike) is my fan because I’ve seen a lot of infrastructure developments he has been embarking on. I believe he has a good heart about FCT.
“He must exercise some restraints not demolishing because the economy is tough. And to me, when the building has been completed, where are those people when those people are building those houses? It’s an economic waste.”
Focus On Property Tax, Not Demolition, Housing Expert, Adebayo, Tells Wike is first published on The Whistler Newspaper
