The Federal Government has set up a 12-member ministerial committee to take charge of the 753 housing units recently seized from former Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Governor, Godwin Emefiele. The houses, located in Lokogoma District of Abuja, were handed over to the Ministry of Housing and Urban Development by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), in line with a directive from President Bola Tinubu.
Minister of Housing and Urban Development, Ahmed Dangiwa, inaugurated the committee on Monday, stating that the move was part of the Tinubu administration’s plan to transform recovered public assets into functional infrastructure that benefits Nigerians.
According to a statement issued by the ministry, the committee has been tasked with assessing the structural integrity of the housing units, evaluating the current state of work, and determining the resources needed to complete critical infrastructure such as roads, power, and water supply.
“It will also develop standards for architectural and finishing consistency, propose a transparent allocation strategy via the Renewed Hope Housing Portal, and engage the public to build confidence,” the statement noted.
The committee is also expected to ensure smooth collaboration with critical stakeholders, including the EFCC, the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA), and utility providers.
A preliminary report is expected within four weeks.
Dangiwa emphasised that the task aligns with the Renewed Hope Agenda and the President’s mandate to turn recovered assets into liveable and affordable homes. He urged the committee to deliver results that would restore public trust in government’s handling of recovered assets.
“The work before you is of national importance. This initiative is not just about reclaiming houses; it is about restoring confidence that government assets can be recovered and repurposed for the people’s benefit,” he said.
He added that the selection of members from technical, engineering, procurement, planning, finance, and media units reflects the government’s focus on transparency and professionalism.
“Nigerians are watching and expect results. They want to see homes completed and allocated fairly. They want evidence that their government is working,” Dangiwa stated.
The committee is chaired by the ministry’s Permanent Secretary, Shuaib Belgore. Other members include senior officials drawn from various departments, including engineering, finance, housing policy, and communications.
Also speaking, Minister of State for Housing, Yusuf Ata, highlighted the size of the task ahead and encouraged the committee to bring in more professionals as needed.
“The committee must be allowed to co-opt experts to meet its goals, considering the scale of this project and the tight timeline,” Ata said.
In his remarks, committee chairman Shuaib Belgore promised that the team would execute its duties with diligence and integrity.
“We are committed to completing this assignment professionally and in line with best practices. This project will serve as a benchmark for how to convert recovered public assets into infrastructure that directly benefits citizens,” Belgore said.
The recovery of the 753 housing units from Emefiele follows ongoing corruption investigations into the former CBN governor. The Tinubu administration has vowed to repurpose illegally acquired assets for the benefit of the Nigerian people.
The project is also seen as part of the government’s effort to reduce the national housing deficit and deliver affordable homes through the Renewed Hope Housing Scheme.
