By Daniel Otera
A fresh directive from the Federal Government has placed a four-week ultimatum on a newly inaugurated ministerial committee to develop a comprehensive plan for the completion and transparent allocation of a 753-unit housing estate recovered by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) in Abuja.
The Minister of Housing and Urban Development, Arc. Ahmed Musa Dangiwa, who inaugurated the committee in Abuja, said the initiative aligns with the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, which seeks to maximise the value of idle assets for public benefit.
“This is not just another assignment; it is a mission to deliver value, hope, and homes,” Dangiwa declared during the event. “You have four weeks to submit a preliminary report and roadmap for the full completion and transparent allocation of the estate.”
The housing estate, located in the Cadastral Zone of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), was officially transferred to the Ministry of Housing and Urban Development by the EFCC on 20 May 2025. Initially abandoned and enmeshed in corruption allegations, the estate had long stood as a symbol of Nigeria’s struggle with economic crimes and underutilised public assets.
Now, the government intends to convert the estate into a model for asset recovery and reinvestment into critical infrastructure. The committee’s mandate is broad and includes structural integrity assessments, evaluation of completed work, estimation of resources needed to complete the infrastructure, and the creation of a disposal strategy that meets the standards of transparency, inclusivity, and affordability.
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According to Dangiwa, the Federal Government is determined to ensure that recovered properties do not waste away. Instead, such assets should be turned into functional and affordable housing through credible frameworks. One key component of the plan is to use the Renewed Hope Housing Portal, a digital platform designed to promote transparent allocation of homes and eliminate middlemen.
He added, “Nigerians want to see results. This estate must become a reference point for how recovered assets can be repurposed to serve the people.”
The disposal strategy is expected to incorporate standardised architectural and infrastructural guidelines, including the provision of roads, electricity, and water supply. The committee is also expected to liaise with technical experts and relevant agencies to fast-track the process.
The decision to revive the abandoned estate comes against the backdrop of Nigeria’s deepening housing crisis. The Federal Mortgage Bank of Nigeria (FMBN) estimates the country’s housing deficit at over 28 million units, a figure echoed by several government and independent bodies.
A recent policy brief by the Infrastructure Policy Commission, published in April 2024, noted that “in 2023, the Nigerian government put the housing deficit statistics at 28 million units with an estimated funding need of N21 trillion.” The Central Bank of Nigeria and other stakeholders have also reiterated this estimate, pointing to a persistent shortfall in affordable housing supply despite numerous initiatives.
Urban planners and housing experts argue that the gap has been particularly detrimental to low-income earners and individuals in the informal sector, many of whom remain priced out of available housing schemes.
The move to repurpose the recovered 753-unit estate is therefore being viewed as a practical step towards addressing the structural imbalance in the housing sector.
To enhance transparency and accessibility, the government has pledged to allocate the homes through the Renewed Hope Housing Portal, a digital platform designed to promote fairness and prevent political or bureaucratic interference.
Dangiwa has assured the public that this process will be different.
“This government is committed to transparency and accountability. We must demonstrate to Nigerians that we are serious about housing reform and economic justice,” he said.
