The Federal Ministry of Housing has said Nigerians will soon have the opportunity to own homes in a 753-duplex housing estate in Abuja, originally linked to former Central Bank Governor Godwin Emefiele and confiscated by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission.
The ministry also said the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission handed over the property on Tuesday at the Ministry’s headquarters in Mabushi, Abuja. The Director of Press and Public Relations at the ministry, Salisu Haiba, said this on Tuesday in a statement.
This came as stakeholders in the housing sector called for the transparent sale of the 753 housing units, stressing that the properties should not be looted again by government officials.
“The Ministry of Housing and Urban Development has taken delivery of the 753 housing units in Abuja housing estate of former Central Bank Governor, Godwin Emefiele, recovered by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission,” the ministry stated in its statement.
The Minister of Housing and Urban Development, Ahmed Dangiwa, praised the EFCC for its sustained commitment to asset recovery and anti-corruption.
“This marks a significant milestone in our collective determination to ensure that recovered assets are put to productive use in ways that directly benefit the Nigerian people. The housing estate recovered from the former Governor of the Central Bank is a case in point,” Dangiwa said.
He announced that the ministry, in collaboration with the EFCC, will undertake a joint familiarization tour to assess the current state of the estate.
We intend to carry out thorough integrity and structural assessments on all buildings and associated infrastructure to confirm their safety and suitability for habitation,” he explained.
The minister also detailed plans for a comprehensive technical evaluation to determine the cost and scope of completing the estate’s infrastructure, including perimeter fencing, roads, drainage, security posts, shopping, and recreation centers.
“The ministry will offer the units for sale both to the public and for special government needs. For the public sale component, we will adopt a transparent and competitive process. This will include nationwide advertisement and the use of the Renewed Hope Portal where interested Nigerians can submit their Expressions of Interest,” Dangiwa added.
He emphasized that the initiative would stand as a model of accountability. “We are committed to making this a model of accountability and public benefit, and we look forward to working closely with the Commission to bring this effort to a successful conclusion,” he said.
The EFCC Chairman, Olanipekun Olukoyede, highlighted the symbolic and practical value of the handover in demonstrating the government’s resolve to fight corruption.
“It is important for us to demonstrate to Nigerians that whatever proceeds of crime that we have recovered in the course of our work, the application of that will be made transparent to Nigerians so that we will not allow looted assets to be looted again,” he stated.
Olukoyede said the estate, located on Plot 109, Cadastral Zone C09, Lokogoma District, Abuja, sits on a parcel of land measuring over 150,000 square meters and contains hundreds of apartments. He revealed that the commission would continue to monitor the Ministry’s efforts to complete the estate and would provide periodic reports to President Bola Tinubu.
He thanked President Tinubu for enabling an environment conducive to effective anti-corruption enforcement and acknowledged the judiciary for its support in ensuring accountability.
“We will monitor the completion and transparent disposal of the properties,” Olukoyede affirmed.
However, our correspondent reports that the specific prices at which the units will be sold have not been disclosed.
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