EFCC/ICPC should not manage seized properties- NIESV

The Nigerian Institution of Estate Surveyors and Valuers (NIESV) has stated that for Nigeria to achieve transparency and proper utilization of repatriated properties from corrupt public officials, it must strip the anti-corruption agencies to power to manage seized properties.

At its 46th Annual Conference which was declared opened on today in Abuja, the Umbrella body of the Estate Surveyors practitioners in Nigeria also admonished the federal government to establish the National Property Agency that will oversee to the management of repatriated assets from corrupt government officials.

Olorogun James Omeru, the National President of NIESV while addressing newsmen on the areas of deliberations at this year’s conference noted that the idea of having EFCC and ICPC managing seized assets breed more corruption in the system.

“We as Estate Surveyors are saying that the same organs that are fighting corruption should not superintend the properties they have confisticated….If I’m the Chairman of EFCC in the present day Nigeria and I’ve been giving power to seize peoples properties and you still ask me to manage, most of the properties will be in my village and that is what is happening, EFCC or ICPC should not be the organs to sell or manage seized properties but that’s what we are doing now, we are moving from one stage of corruption to the other. Omeru said

He admonished federal government to establish an agency, “National Property Agency” to manage properties that are either seized or confisticated by the anti-graft agencies to ensure efficiency and transparency.

While highlighting issues that will be deliberated on at the conference, Omeru said the growing and unabated conversion of residential areas to commercial ones, issues of proper planning and the need for government to cite some of its ministries outside the city centre of FCT will be talking points at the conference.

“So many areas have been designated as residential but they are physically and evidently commercial, we want to see how we can discuss with government and advocate for them to be reverted back to residentials”.

“We are also going to discuss how we can convince government into locating some of its offices outside the city centres so as to ease the burden of having the city centre overcrowded.

The theme for this year’s conference is, “City Growth: Issues and challenges of Urban Sustainability.”

 

KEHINDE ABDULSALAM