The Minister of Housing and Urban Development, Mr. Ahmed Dangiwa, has called on owners of Federal Government-owned lands and houses in Lagos State to remit ground rents to the government. He emphasized this during a stakeholder engagement on land administration and a physical inspection of areas such as Banana Island, Osborne Phase One and Two, Park View/Foreshore Estates, and the shorelines.
Dangiwa stated that the government plans to improve revenue collection by ensuring occupiers of federal properties pay their ground rents. He noted that this is essential for upgrading facilities. According to him, the Federal Government remains committed to renovating and safeguarding its assets across the nation while ensuring compliance with land administration laws.
Under President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, Dangiwa highlighted the ministry’s resolve to restore order in managing federal lands and assets. “The Ministry is resolved to ensure strict adherence to the provisions of the law regarding the control and administration of its assets to maintain order,” he said.
Facility Management Fees vs. Ground Rent
Dangiwa clarified the roles of estate associations, urging them to limit their activities to collecting facility management fees as agreed upon with residents. He stated that such fees should strictly be used for maintaining amenities like electricity, roads, and other services within estates.
“This is known to be the facility management fees, which all estates usually charge in order to maintain the estate, but they should not go beyond that to collecting ground rent from the occupants.
“The ground rent is meant for the federal government.
“If they are collecting it on our behalf, they should remit it fully; otherwise, we are going to engage our own staff to do it or engage consultants to do so on our behalf,” Dangiwa warned.
Collaboration with Lagos State
Addressing disputes over land administration, Dangiwa revealed that the Federal Government and Lagos State have agreed to establish a joint committee to resolve longstanding issues. The committee will ensure better coordination in land administration and address challenges such as double taxation for owners of Federal Government estates and lands.
“We are one government, and it is vital that we work as partners to ensure effective administration of Federal Government assets.
“Proper coordination will prevent exploitation by third parties and ensure compliance with the law,” Dangiwa explained.
Stakeholder Engagement and Urban Development
The minister described the stakeholder engagement as an opportunity to align strategies for sustainable urban development. He emphasized the importance of understanding the challenges facing landowners and estates while delivering affordable housing for Nigerians.
Dangiwa expressed concerns about the poor condition of federal properties and incomplete housing projects, vowing to expedite renovations and complete the projects. “We have resolved to optimise these facilities and put them to good use so that they can provide value to the government and Nigerians.
“Our aim is to fast-track the completion of housing projects to increase the stock of affordable housing for Nigerians in Lagos,” he added.
Upgrading Ministry Operations
Plans are underway to modernize the Ministry of Housing field offices in Lagos. Dangiwa noted that this transformation would create functional workspaces, enhance staff productivity, and improve operational efficiency.
Addressing Shoreline Developments
Dangiwa also reaffirmed the Federal Government’s authority over shoreline titles and warned developers against unauthorized reclamation or construction. He noted that many developments along Lagos’s shoreline were done without proper clearance, describing the practice as unacceptable.
“To curb these practices, the ministry issued a one-month ultimatum for all developers on shorelines to regularise their papers or risk having their properties revoked and demolished.
“We have observed numerous haphazard developments along the shoreline, where people have reclaimed and built on land without proper clearance or authorisation. This is unacceptable,” he said.
The ministry remains committed to optimizing federal assets and addressing the concerns of stakeholders. Dangiwa emphasized that the government’s efforts would not only safeguard its properties but also improve housing access and urban development across the state.
