By Admin 
New Policies Set to Streamline Land Allocation, Development, and Mass Housing Titles
Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister, Nyesom Wike, on Friday announced major reforms aimed at transforming land administration and development within the FCT. The reforms, which take effect from April 21, 2025, introduce stricter deadlines for land payments and development, revamp the Mass Housing Program, and enforce the regularization of Area Council land allocations.
Key Reform Measures:
- 21-Day Payment Deadline:
All recipients of Statutory Right of Occupancy (R-of-O) must pay the required fees and submit a Letter of Acceptance within 21 days of receiving their offer. Failure to comply will lead to automatic revocation of the offer. Any payments made after the deadline will be deemed invalid. - Two-Year Development Window:
Allottees must develop their land within two years of the R-of-O issuance. Plots left undeveloped beyond this period will be revoked. - Overhaul of Mass Housing Program:
Citing underperformance since its 2000 launch, Wike announced a new framework for the Mass Housing Program. Of the 445 allocations made under the Public-Private Partnership model, only two developers met their obligations. The new system introduces clearer procedures for titling and recognizing Sectional Interests. From April 21, 2025, title applications for Mass Housing Estates will be handled by the Department of Land Administration.
Wike also highlighted that many residents in Mass Housing Estates have lived for years without formal titles or payment of required fees—an issue the reforms aim to resolve.
- Regularization of Area Council Land Documents:
All land within the FCT is classified as urban and must be regularized. While over 261,000 Area Council land documents have been submitted since 2006, only 2,358 (3.2%) have been processed into statutory titles. Under the new policy, vetted documents will be granted statutory titles, and recipients will have 60 days to complete required payments or face revocation.
Rebuilding Trust in Land Management:
Wike stressed that the reforms are intended to promote transparency, fairness, and orderly development. “We are committed to restoring public confidence and ensuring efficient land use across the FCT,” he stated.