The Federal Government is set to begin the sale of a sprawling residential estate in Abuja, formerly linked to ex-Central Bank Governor, Godwin Emefiele.
The estate, comprising 753 units, is expected to be offered to Nigerians in the low and middle-income brackets.
The estate, which spans over 150,000 square metres and includes a mix of duplexes and other apartment types, was seized by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) in what the agency described as its most substantial asset recovery since its inception in 2003.
The final forfeiture was authorised on December 2, 2024, following a ruling by Justice Jude Onwuegbuzie of the Federal Capital Territory High Court in Abuja. EFCC documentation linked ownership of the estate to Emefiele.
In an effort to reclaim the estate, Emefiele returned to the FCT High Court in April 2025, claiming the EFCC had intentionally excluded him from the forfeiture process, even though he had been in contact with the agency over other charges. The court, however, dismissed his application.
On Tuesday, May 20, 2025, EFCC Chairman Ola Olukoyede formally handed over the 753 housing units to the Minister of Housing and Urban Development, Ahmed Dangiwa.
Speaking to The PUNCH, Badamasi Haiba, Director of Press and Public Relations at the housing ministry, affirmed the government’s commitment to ensuring that the estate benefits everyday citizens.
“Next would be to profile the houses and decide how they will be sold to Nigerians. However, the intention of the minister has always been homeownership for all categories of Nigerians, including low and middle-income earners – so we should expect to see such intentions play out here, all-inclusive,” Haiba told PUNCH.
He explained that structural and safety evaluations would be carried out on the estate, which remains under construction, before decisions are made on sale logistics.
Haiba further disclosed that the ministry’s digital portal would be used for applications and purchases, offering accessible payment plans for interested buyers.
“Homes sold by the ministry will always have flexible payment options, including mortgage, instalment, rent-to-own payment, etc., whether in this case or any other.
“These are just 753 units. The ministry has over 10,000 houses nearing completion nationwide under the Renewed Hope Housing Programme.
“The ministry has a web portal developed where sales of these houses are done – renewedhopehomes.fmhud.gov.ng. The minister has already stated that the same process will be adopted in selling these confiscated houses.”
When questioned about the availability of the portal for the public, he responded:
“The Housing Ministry will first complete the houses. Construction was ongoing before the recovery by the EFCC.”
He also sought to allay fears that the estate might be cornered by political elites or government associates.
“People will always speculate, maybe due to experiences from years ago. The present Renewed Hope administration is doing something different in promoting transparency and accountability.
“I can only tell you what the ministry is doing. With the renewedhopehomes.fmhud.gov.ng portal, the ministry has cut off human interference to ensure that the sales process is transparent and all-inclusive.
“Any Nigerian can sit in their home, log onto the portal, browse through the different types of units and locations, select the house they want, select a payment option, submit their application, and get an offer letter right there and then.”
