Nigeria’s 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 Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Godwin Emefiele, and confiscated by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
The statement by the Director of Press and Public Relations at the ministry, Salisu Haiba, said in a statement on Tuesday in Abuja that the EFCC handed over the property on Tuesday at the Ministry’s headquarters in Mabushi, Abuja.
“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, would 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.
Meanwhile, some stakeholders in the housing sector have called for the transparent sale of the 753 housing units, stressing that the properties should not be looted again by government officials.
GIK/APA