In November last year, while hosting the Good Governance Team, the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, Bala Mohammed, was asked by a journalist if low income earners would be considered in the allocation of plots and siting of projects in the Goodluck Jonathan District, formerly known as Maitama Extension District, which will host the official residences of the four presiding officers of the National Assembly.
Mr. Mohammed responded wryly. According to him, though the lands had been allocated by the preceding FCT administration, there were plots for all categories of Nigerians who might wish to live in the district he named after the sitting president.
"We have three categories of plots in this district for the high, middle and low income earners. However, all the plots have been allocated before we assumed office. We are only developing it for the allottees to come and develop the district," he said.
The minister also disclosed to his guests, led by his counterpart in the Information Ministry, Labaran Maku, that the Federal Capital Territory Administration, FCTA, had already awarded a contract to a Nigerian firm to develop infrastructure in the district and three others at a total cost ofN44 billion and that acquiring the plots there would not only be affordable but also accessible by all.
PREMIUM TIMES investigation, however, shows that contrary to what Mr Mohammed promised, the plots of land in the Goodluck Jonathan District are not within the reach of the middle and low income earners. At present plots with Certificates of Occupancy, CofO, in all parts of the district are sold for between N250 million and N400 million, depending on their size.
Indeed, the district has become the latest attraction for the high and mighty in the country and this has led to property dealers in Abuja raising costs of the plots at will.
For instance, in the 3rd – 15th June edition of Estate News Orbital, a property magazine, Toni Austine Properties Ltd with offices in Nigeria, Ghana and South Africa advertised a residential land measuring 1400 square metres (sqm) for N250 million while another one which measures 2400 sqm goes for N280 million. The same firm also advertised a commercial land measuring 2270 sqm with C of O for N270 million and another one measuring 7700 sqm for N400 million.
According to the same journal, Time Young Properties is selling a residential plot measuring N1800 with CofO for N400 million.
Adverts for property in the District are also placed online. According to some of those placed through the medium, a residential plot measuring 2885 sqm with CofO goes for N500 million while another one measuring 2300 sqm with Right of Occupancy is sold for N300 million.
Except in Main Maitama, Asokoro, Wuse 2, Wuye, Guzape, Katampe and some parts of Utako Districts, at no other district are costs of plots comparable to those in the Goodluck Jonathan District. Even so, a few plots of land in some of these high brow districts still go for as low as between N70 million and N180 million, but such are not found in the district named after the president.
For instance, Banjo Adeleke & Co, a firm of Estate Surveyors and Valuers, with offices in Abuja, Lagos and Port Harcourt advertised a plot of land measuring 1559 sqm in Wuse 2 for N45 million and another plot of about 2,123.59 sqm in Katampe for N75 million. The firm is also selling another plot in Katampe measuring 3700 sqm at N50 million. Owoeye & Partners advertised a plot measuring 1200m2 for N45m.
Another property dealer who advertised online, put a land measuring 2300 sqm with CofO in Asokoro District for N180 million and another in Garki District measuring 1620 sqm goes for N70 million for the asking.
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