KEY POINTS
- A committee is set up by FG to complete the 753-unit development in Lokogoma.
- In four weeks, the committee will have to give a complete preliminary report.
- Allocate housing using affordability, fairness also with openness.
The Federal Government formed a 12-member committee to deal with the 753-unit housing estate recovered from former Central Bank of Nigeria Governor, Godwin Emefiele.
The estate stands within Lokogoma District in the city of Abuja. Following President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s directive, the Ministry of Housing and Urban Development received the property from the EFCC.
The Minister of Housing and Urban Development, Arc Ahmed Dangiwa, stated that a technical committee will check the structural condition of the buildings, also carry out the outstanding works and offer suggestions for managing and distributing the estate.
Committee composition
Dr. Shuaib Belgore, the Ministry’s Permanent Secretary, leads the committee. Additional important members are:
*Mr. Funsho Alabi, Director, Office of the Permanent Secretary will function as Alternate Chairman
* QS Temitope Pemi, Director, Public Building and Housing Development is the Secretary for the team.
*Collins Alabi is the Director in the Lands and Housing Development department.
* Hikmat Toyin Aderibigbe is the Director of Engineering Services
* Margaret Ojewemimo Adejobi leads the Urban and Regional Planning process.
Scope of work for the committee on the 753 houses recovered
The committee’s responsibilities are as follows:
* Carry out structural and integrity check on all buildings.
*Check the number and types of housing available
*After completing the task, see what the expected market value could be.
*Study the ongoing work being done on roads, water, power, also with security.
*Produce standards for architecture and finishing                                                              *Detail out how you will fairly and openly distribute housing using the Renewed Hope Housing Portal.
*Produce an ongoing engagement strategy to boost trust among members of the public
*Partner with the EFCC, FCTA and major service providers
*Turn in a preliminary report within four weeks.
A call to take action
When forming the committee, Dangiwa stressed that it was a key effort and called on its members to treat it as a call to serve their country. Because of your capability, the Ministry has decided to entrust this initiative to you, he told me. He also asked the committee to be open and efficient in delivering its outcomes to the public.
Ata asked for the authority to bring in extra people to help the committee, since the project’s finish is pressing and its scope is extensive.
Converting the 753 houses recovered, a process for using public assets differently
According to committee chairman Dr. Belgore, the group is dedicated to converting the estate into housing that is safe and meets the requirements of national housing policies.
Moreover the good outcome of this assignment will form a guide for reinvesting what the government loans back into the system, he added. The minister let Nigerians know that the committee would tackle its job honestly, diligently, also with complete professionalism.
