Reps Urge FG to Allocate Forfeited Emefiele-Linked Estate to Low-Income Earners, IDPs
The House of Representatives has called on the Federal Government to allocate the 753 housing units forfeited by former Central Bank Governor, Godwin Emefiele, to low-income earners and internally displaced persons (IDPs), instead of selling them to the public.
The estate, located at Plot 109, Cadastral Zone C09 in Lokogoma, Abuja, was forfeited to the Federal Government following a judgment by the Federal High Court in December 2024.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) had subsequently handed over the property to the Federal Ministry of Housing and Urban Development earlier this year.
During plenary on Tuesday, lawmakers adopted a motion urging the Ministry of Housing and Urban Development to prioritize vulnerable Nigerians in the allocation of the property. They emphasized that the estate should serve as part of President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope housing agenda aimed at addressing the country’s shelter deficit and improving the living standards of poor citizens.
The House further directed the ministry to develop and publish a transparent and accountable allocation framework that clearly states the criteria and process for selecting beneficiaries.
The framework, lawmakers said, should ensure equity and prevent the property from being cornered by the wealthy or politically connected individuals.
Additionally, the House mandated its Committee on Housing and Habitat to oversee the implementation of the motion and ensure that the ministry reports back to the legislature within 60 days.
Earlier reports indicated that the Federal Government had planned to sell the estate through the Renewed Hope Housing portal after conducting structural and infrastructure assessments.
However, the latest resolution by the House of Representatives seeks to redirect the estate’s purpose toward meeting the housing needs of economically disadvantaged Nigerians and victims of displacement.
The motion underscores growing concerns among lawmakers that forfeited assets from corruption cases should directly benefit the public, especially vulnerable groups, rather than being commercialized.
