FG Takes Over Emefiele’s Forfeited 753-Housing Units Estate in Abuja — To Be Offered for Sale to Nigerians

 

In a major development that underscores the Nigerian government's commitment to transparency, accountability, and proper use of recovered assets, the Federal Ministry of Housing and Urban Development has officially taken over the forfeited 753-housing units estate previously linked to former Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Governor, Godwin Emefiele. The handover was carried out by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) in Abuja on Tuesday, May 20, 2025.

This handover marks a significant moment in the current administration's ongoing anti-corruption campaign under the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu. The estate, which is located in Lokogoma District, Abuja, spans an expansive 150,462.86 square meters, and contains hundreds of housing units, now set to be evaluated and eventually offered for public sale.

EFCC Hands Over Emefiele’s Property to Housing Ministry

The event took place at the Ministry's headquarters in the Mabushi district of Abuja, where the Executive Chairman of the EFCC, Mr. Ola Olukoyede, officially handed over the estate to the Minister of Housing and Urban Development, Arc. Ahmed Musa Dangiwa.

While addressing the press and stakeholders at the handover ceremony, Minister Dangiwa expressed appreciation to the EFCC for its unwavering commitment to recovering looted public assets and returning them to serve the interests of Nigerians.

“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. The housing estate recovered from the former Governor of the Central Bank is a case in point,”
— Arc. Ahmed Dangiwa, Minister of Housing and Urban Development

Structural Assessment and Completion Plans

The minister outlined that a comprehensive technical evaluation will soon commence to ensure that all buildings and infrastructure within the estate are structurally sound, safe, and suitable for occupation. This will include a full integrity and structural assessment of every housing unit.

“We intend to carry out thorough integrity and structural assessments on all buildings and associated infrastructure to confirm their safety and suitability for habitation,”
— Arc. Ahmed Dangiwa

Beyond the assessments, the Ministry also plans to calculate the cost of completing the estate, as a significant portion of the infrastructure and amenities remains unfinished. This will involve estimating the cost for:

• Perimeter fencing

• Internal road networks

• Drainage systems

• A police post

• Shopping areas

• Recreational centers

• Other essential amenities

Housing Units to Be Sold Through Transparent Process

Following the completion of the assessment and any necessary construction or renovations, the Ministry intends to offer the housing units for public sale and special government needs. Importantly, the minister emphasized that the process will be transparent, competitive, and fair.

To ensure accessibility and transparency, the public sale will be managed via the Renewed Hope Portal, a digital platform where interested Nigerians can express their interest in acquiring the properties.

“The Ministry will offer the units for sale both to the public and for special government needs. For the public sale component, we will adopt a transparent and competitive process. This will include nationwide advertisement and the use of the Renewed Hope Portal where interested Nigerians can submit their Expressions of Interest,”
— Arc. Ahmed Dangiwa

EFCC: Fight Against Corruption Is Yielding Results

In his own address, EFCC Chairman Olanipekun Olukoyede spoke extensively on the background of the property’s forfeiture and the broader context of Nigeria's anti-corruption efforts. According to him, the estate was recovered after a detailed investigation that revealed suspicious and unjustified ownership of such a massive real estate project by the former apex bank governor.

“The handing over of the forfeited properties is a demonstration of the impact of the fight against financial crimes and corruption in Nigeria, as pronounced in the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Tinubu,”
— Olanipekun Olukoyede, EFCC Chairman

He noted that the EFCC had initiated a civil forfeiture process in 2024 after concluding that no one could legitimately lay claim to such a high-value asset without evidence of proper acquisition or declaration.

Olukoyede also stated that the directive to transfer the asset to the Ministry of Housing came directly from President Bola Tinubu, who has maintained a zero-tolerance stance against corruption and a strong emphasis on the responsible management of recovered assets.

“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,”
— Olanipekun Olukoyede

A Symbol of the Renewed Hope Agenda

The forfeiture and repurposing of Emefiele’s housing estate serve as a symbolic victory for President Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, which prioritizes transparency, housing development, and the reinvestment of public resources back into the hands of the people.

By turning a once-questionable real estate holding into an opportunity for affordable housing, the government is also tackling Nigeria’s chronic housing deficit and increasing access to shelter, especially in urban areas like Abuja where real estate prices are often out of reach for average citizens.

What This Means for Nigerians

This development sends a strong message to public officials and citizens alike: looted public assets will no longer go unpunished, and recovered properties will be used in ways that benefit the Nigerian populace. It also provides a fresh opportunity for Nigerians interested in homeownership, especially those who have long been priced out of the Abuja housing market.

With this estate now in government hands and plans underway to offer units for public sale, many Nigerians can look forward to transparent access to decent housing, built and managed under clear guidelines, unlike the shadowy circumstances under which it was initially acquired.

Conclusion

The takeover of the 753-housing unit estate from former CBN Governor Godwin Emefiele by the Federal Government is a landmark step in the right direction. It shows that the Nigerian government, under President Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, is serious about anti-corruption, asset recovery, and housing development.

Nigerians should watch closely as the Ministry of Housing begins structural assessments, completes unfinished infrastructure, and rolls out a nationwide housing sales plan. This moment could very well redefine how public assets are recovered and redistributed for the benefit of ordinary citizens in Nigeria.

Stay tuned to NaijaRush.com for more updates on this developing story and everything you need to know about housing opportunities, government reforms, and anti-corruption progress in Nigeria.