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By Daniel Adaji
The federal government has inaugurated a ministerial committee to complete and allocate 753 housing units recovered from associates of former Central Bank Governor, Godwin Emefiele.
Speaking at the inauguration on Monday, the Minister of Housing and Urban Development Ahmed Dangiwa said the estate, located in the Cadastral Zone of the Federal Capital Territory, was handed over by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on May 20, 2025.
“This Estate, as we are all aware, was recently recovered and handed over to our Ministry by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC),” he said.
“Let me begin by appreciating the EFCC for this critical intervention which has now created a unique opportunity for the Federal Government to convert what was once a symbol of public sector inefficiency and abuse into a beacon of public service and national renewal,” he added.
He said the committee’s task is not just routine but “a mission to deliver value. A mission to deliver hope. A mission to deliver homes.”
The committee headed by the Ministry’s Permanent Secretary, includes senior government officials.
The minister noted that their selection reflects “the confidence the Ministry has in your capacity to drive this initiative with the seriousness and efficiency it demands.”
Dangiwa said the committee has eight specific tasks, including conducting structural integrity tests, valuing existing work, estimating completion costs, developing uniform building standards, and proposing a fair and inclusive disposal strategy. It must also coordinate with EFCC, the FCT Administration, and utility providers.
“A clear, transparent, and inclusive strategy for the disposal and allocation of the housing units prioritizing special government needs, affordability, equity, and public access through the Renewed Hope Housing Portal” is one of the committee’s top mandates.
“Nigerians are watching. They want to see results. They want to see homes built and allocated transparently. They want to see government working for them,” Dangiwa said.
He instructed the committee to submit a preliminary report within four weeks, calling on members to “eliminate bureaucracy. Think outside the box. Be result-oriented.”
“This recovered estate must serve as a reference point of what is possible when public institutions work in synergy for the people,” he said.