The Federal Ministry of Housing and Urban Development has taken over a massive 753-duplex housing estate in Lokogoma, Abuja, originally linked to former Central Bank of Nigeria Governor, Godwin Emefiele, with plans to offer the units for sale to the Nigerian public.
The estate, located on Plot 109, Cadastral Zone C09, spans over 150,000 square metres. It was officially handed over to the Ministry by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on Tuesday, May 20, 2025, following a final forfeiture order granted in December 2024 by Justice Jude Onwuegbuzie of the FCT High Court in Apo.
The EFCC alleged that Emefiele used illicit funds obtained through kickbacks from foreign exchange allocations and contract awards during his time as CBN Governor to acquire the estate. Though he later filed a motion to reclaim the property, the court dismissed it in April 2025 for lack of merit, affirming that due process was followed in the forfeiture.
The Minister of Housing and Urban Development, Ahmed Dangiwa, praised the EFCC’s asset recovery efforts, promising that the seized estate will now serve the public good. “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,” Dangiwa said.
He revealed that the Ministry will begin integrity and structural assessments of the estate, alongside a full technical evaluation to determine infrastructure needs including fencing, roads, drainage, security posts, shopping areas, and recreation facilities.
Dangiwa announced that the duplexes will be sold both for public purchase and for special government needs. He assured Nigerians that the public sale will be transparent and competitive, with applications submitted through the Ministry’s Renewed Hope Portal.
“We are committed to making this a model of accountability and public benefit,” he stated.
EFCC Chairman, Olanipekun Olukoyede, described the handover as a significant step in the fight against corruption. “It is important for us to demonstrate to Nigerians that whatever proceeds of crime we recover will be applied transparently and will not be looted again,” Olukoyede said.
He added that the EFCC will continue to monitor the ministry’s efforts in completing and disposing of the estate and will provide regular updates to President Bola Tinubu. He credited the president and the judiciary for supporting the anti-corruption drive.
While specific pricing details for the housing units have not yet been released, the Ministry’s move has sparked reactions from key housing sector stakeholders who are demanding full transparency and inclusivity in the sale process.
Toye Eniola, Executive Secretary of the Association of Housing Corporations of Nigeria, said the public has a right to benefit from recovered assets but warned against elite capture. “I hope these houses will not be sold to themselves and people in the government. This is where the issue is,” Eniola said.
Adewunmi Okupe, CEO of Ace Hi-Tech Construction Ltd., called for a redesign of the estate before sale. “They should remodel each duplex into four units. That way, we can get about 3,012 housing units, and the proceeds should form a revolving fund to build more affordable houses,” he advised.
Stephen Eke, President of Fajiri Construction Ltd., expressed fears of bias. “We worry that the same people who recovered it will still be the same clients to buy it,” he said.
Architect Seyi Amusan, CEO of Space Button Architecture, welcomed the move but said Nigerians want action beyond press statements. “It’s a thing of hope when unjust possessions are recovered. But this hope will only be sustained if these assets reach the common people,” he noted.
The Ministry’s next steps include physical inspections and eventual sale of the properties. If implemented transparently, the initiative could offer affordable housing to Nigerians and stand as a model for converting the proceeds of corruption into public infrastructure.
