PAYING GROUND RENTS: THIS IS A CIVIC RESPONSIBILITY! PLATEAU MINISTRY OF LANDS, SURVEY AND TOWN PLANNING, TELLS CITIZENS

By: Valentine Adese (JP),

Plateau State Ministry of Lands, Survey and Town Planning has taken the issue(s) of land registration in the state very serious, as it reminds the citizens in the state that, “payment of Ground Rent is a Civic Responsibility”.

GOV. LALONG

To further encourage the citizens to pay and reduce the financial burden, the Commissioner of the Ministry, Mr. Yakubu Dati, has disclosed to citizens that, the administration under the watch and directive of Governor Simon Bako Lalong has slashed the statutory fees for registration by 50%.

You would recall that, towards the end of last year, 2021, the Ministry had embarked on a statewide campaign to create awareness among corporate and non-corporate organizations and also to distribute Demand Notices for payment of arrears of Ground Rents among others.

REALITY had reported that, the campaign was also aimed at correcting the current observed violations of various land laws in the state, spilling over decades by the Ministry.

You would recall that, the Ministry of Lands, survey and Town Planning, Plateau State, had observed that, property owners are either in contravention or violation of their Certificate/Right of Occupancy of the Land use Act, Land Tenure Law of Northern Nigeria and Section 3 of the Plateau State Land Use Charge Law.

The Task Force constituted by the Ministry led by its Commissioner, Mr. Yakubu Dati, as Chairman, last year, visited corporate and non-corporate organizations on 26th, October, 2021, to serve Demand Notices on them in the state capital.

The Task Force while on the campaign, visited the popular motor park opposite the Nigerian Television Authority (NTA) and discovered that, the land was initially granted for a residential property development, instead, it is being used as a motor park, which generates millions annually for the owner/operator, while the same owner has failed to remit what is due for Government.

A Demand Notice for the owner to appear at the Ministry to regularize the document concerning the property was issued and received on behalf of the owner by a man, doing business in the name of Malgam Transport.