The Ministry of Housing and Urban Development has officially taken delivery of a 753-unit housing estate formerly owned by Godwin Emefiele, the embattled former governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria.
The property was handed over by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on Tuesday at the Ministry’s headquarters in Mabushi, Abuja.
Minister of Housing and Urban Development, Ahmed Dangiwa, commended the EFCC for its commitment to asset recovery and anti-corruption.
“The Ministry of Housing and Urban Development has taken delivery of the 753 Housing Units Abuja housing estate of former Central Bank Governor, Godwin Emefiele, recovered by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission,” the ministry’s spokesman, Salisu Haiba, said in a statement.
“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 disclosed that the Ministry, in collaboration with the EFCC, would undertake a joint familiarisation tour to assess the current state of the estate.
“We intend to carry out thorough integrity and structural assessments on all buildings and associated infrastructure to confirm their safety and suitability for habitation,” he explained.
”The Ministry will offer the units for sale to the public and for special government needs, adopting a transparent and competitive process, ” he added.
EFCC Chairman, Olanipekun Olukoyede, highlighted the symbolic and practical value of the handover in demonstrating the government’s resolve to fight corruption.
“It is important for us to demonstrate to Nigerians that whatever proceeds of crime that we have recovered in the course of our work, the application of that will be made transparent to Nigerians so that we will not allow looted assets to be looted again,” he stated.
”The Ministry will conduct a thorough assessment of the estate and offer the units for sale through a transparent process, including nationwide advertisement and the use of the Renewed Hope Portal, ” he added.
