Property owners within the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, who illegally convert their residential buildings to commercial use will be made to pay a fine of N5 million by the FCT Administration.

The affected areas include Gana, Gimbiya, Aminu Kano crescent, Ademola Adetokunbo, and other streets in the city centre.

This decision was contained in a recommendation by an Adhoc Committee on the Review of Land Use/Purpose Clauses of Land and Properties at locations overtaken by commercial and other activities.

The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, Nyesom Wike had on August 8, inaugurated two ad-hoc committees to review the controversies over River Park Estate and the other committee was on the review of Land use/purpose clauses of land and properties at locations overtaken by commercial and other activities.

But the committee while presenting its report on Tuesday, informed the Minister that most of the structures on Gimbiya Street in Garki, Gana Street in Maitama, and Ademola Adetokumbo Street in Wuse II had been converted to offices, hotels and other businesses without approval from the FCTA.

The committee headed by the Director of Development Control, Mukhtar Galadima, said who illegally converted their properties are expected to pay a conversion fee of 7.5percent of the assessed Capital Value of their properties.

Part of the report reads; “That, allottees/title holders of land and properties affected by the land use change/conversion, pay within thirty (30) days from the date of conveyance of approval, Land Use Conversion fee of 7.5% of the assessed Capital Value of the properties as contained in the Schedule/Valuation Report Sheet (VRS) at pages 54-70 and the Valuation Report annexed herein as Annexure E;

“That, allottees/title holders of the land and properties affected by the land use change/conversion, in addition to payment of Land Use Conversion fee, pay statutory Right of Occupancy bills applicable for the new land use/purpose clause and as charged for the District.”

The committee warned that a situation where there is illegal or unapproved extensions, mergers or subdivisions, the title holders would in addition pay “extension/merger/subdivision fee of the extant 2.0% of the assessed Capital Value of the properties within thirty (30) days from the date of conveyance of approval.”

Speaking after he received the report, Wike warned those engaging in illegal conversion of their properties.

He said defaulters would be sanctioned to serve as a deterrent to those.

The minister also threatened to revoke the land titles of those involved in illegal conversion of the properties.