Nigeria’s Minister of Housing and Urban Development, Arch. Ahmed Dangiwa, has disclosed that the Federal Government will complete and put for sale the 753 housing units recovered from embattled former Central Bank Governor, Mr Godwin Emefiele.
The minister stated this when he confirmed taking delivery of the housing estate from the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
Join our WhatsApp ChannelThe EFCC officially handed over the recovered property located in the Cadastral Zone of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja, during a brief ceremony at the Ministry’s headquarters on Tuesday.
Dangiwa hailed the EFCC for its efforts that led to the successful recovery of the assets.
He said the handover was in line with the directive of President Bola Tinubu that the recovered estate be completed and made available to the Nigerian public through a transparent and accountable process.
“It marks a significant milestone in the government’s effort to ensure that recovered assets are not left to waste, but are transformed into productive infrastructure that directly benefits Nigerians,” the minister stated via his X handle.
He further stated that the ministry will conduct a comprehensive structural integrity assessment of all buildings and associated structures in the estate to ensure safety and suitability for habitation and thereafter complete all outstanding infrastructure, including roads, drainage systems, and other essential amenities, to make the estate fully functional.
“Additionally, a standardized housing design framework will be developed to ensure architectural uniformity and provide guidance to prospective allottees.
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“Finally, the housing units will be offered for sale through a transparent and competitive process, which will be widely advertised and managed via the Renewed Hope Portal.
“Together with the EFCC, we will work to show that the fight against corruption can deliver real benefits—turning looted assets into livable homes for Nigerians,” the minister added.
A statement by the Director, Press and Public Relations, Ministry of Housing and Urban Development, Salisu Haiba, said the housing units will be offered for sale both to the public and for special government needs.
For the public sale component, the ministry said it will adopt a transparent and competitive process that will allow all interested Nigerians to submit their Expressions of Interest and be allowed to participate in the bidding and buying of the housing units.
It added that the goal is to “ensure that recovered assets are put to productive use in ways that directly benefit the Nigerian people.”
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The estate, which is considered the EFCC’s largest single-asset recovery since its establishment in 2003, was said to have been built with illicit funds.
While the EFCC had said the estate was recovered from an unnamed former senior government official suspected of building it with illegal funds, court filings submitted in the forfeiture proceedings, however, traced the assets to Mr Emefiele.
The ex-CBN governor has been facing a series of corruption charges since he was sacked in June 2023.
According to the EFCC, the property was forfeited because the suspect failed to prove to the court that it was lawfully acquired.
Victor Ezeja is a passionate journalist with seven years of experience writing on economy, politics and energy. He holds a Master's degree in Mass Communication.
