Wike investigates sales of federal houses in FCT

Nyesom Wike, the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, has ordered an investigation into the sale of federal government houses in FCT.

He has directed the Task Force on issuance of Certificate of Occupancy, which he recently constituted, to carry out the investigation and review the Abuja land swap system.

The committee has been mandated to assess the situation of federal government houses in the territory and provide a comprehensive report of the true position of things in terms of several houses sold, proof of sale, and several houses abandoned.

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A week ago, Wike inaugurated a task force on the n issuance of a Certificate of Occupancy to housing estates in Abuja, and he directed the panel to complete its assignment in one month. However, the Minister has now extended the duration of the task force to two months considering the additional task he gave the team.

Wike expressed concerns over complaints that some houses are abandoned while some are sold. Furthermore, he has requested documentation showing the receipts of payments for the houses sold. He also wants the task force to investigate the houses built and abandoned in the city.

“We want to get details of the land swap system and the sale of federal government houses in the Federal Capital Territory. There are so many complaints that some houses are abandoned and some are sold, let us know the houses that are sold. Where is the documentation? Let them show us the receipt of payments. Not only the federal government houses but also the houses built and abandoned in the city”, he said.

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The Abuja land swap initiative, which began in 2013 by the Federal Capital Territory Administration, is a system where the government gives a green field to developers for real property development. The developers, in turn, provide specified infrastructure on the land.