The establishment of investigating committees seeks to rectify anomalies, increase public confidence, and restore alignment with the initial monetization policy.
The Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) has established two committees to examine the land titling of park plots in Abuja and the sale of Federal Government-owned homes in a daring move toward accountability and transparency after it was discovered that previous transactions had numerous irregularities.
Officials claim that the action is a direct reaction to ministerial orders following the identification of “serious infractions and deviations” from the authorized procedures for the distribution of government properties in the capital.
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During the weekend’s inauguration event for the two vetting committees, FCTA Director of Land Administration Chijioke Nwankwoeze revealed the news.
He claimed that the committees were set up with Nyesom Wike, the minister of the Federal Capital Territory,’s consent in order to rectify systemic shortcomings and rebuild public trust in the management of land and housing.
The FCTA’s Assistant Director of Information and Customer Service, Badaru Yakassai, signed a declaration outlining the violations found.
The trust and efficiency in Abuja’s real estate transactions have been weakened by these problems, which include violations of the authorized monetization mission, subpar verification procedures, late payments, poor interdepartmental cooperation, and egregiously inadequate documentation.
“Restoring order, accountability, and transparency in accordance with the federal government’s initial 2003–2005 monetisation and sales policy framework is the committee’s task,” Nwankwoeze stated.
In order to ascertain whether the monetization program implemented under the administration of former President Olusegun Obasanjo is being followed, the first committee is especially tasked with reviewing the sale of federal government properties. The goal of that program was to allow civil officials to privately own government-owned properties through a methodical and open process.
Recent research, however, points to a number of irregularities in the process, including purported record tampering, inappropriate distribution, and speculative purchases by parties other than the initial policy aim.
The second committee will concentrate on a controversial topic in the continuous urban expansion of the FCT: the titling of designated park areas. The Department of Parks and Recreation will be closely collaborating with it to make sure that land titling is in line with the FCTA’s present land reform plan.
According to Nwankwoeze, “this is a bold and irreversible step.”
“The administration is fully committed to ensuring that such assets are administered in the public interest and to resolving lingering issues related to government property sales and public land usage.”
“The committees were given clear terms of reference, timelines, and institutional backing to carry out their mandates effectively,” he noted, adding that the FCT Minister fully supported them politically.
Stakeholders in the land administration and real estate industries believe the move is appropriate. Since property ownership in the FCT is frequently hampered by opacity, conflicting claims, and inadequate paperwork, numerous experts have long advocated for a thorough revamp of land titling protocols as well as a forensic examination of the monetization process.
Additionally, analysts think that bringing back systemic transparency might draw in reliable investments, lower the likelihood of corruption in government asset transfers, and unlock substantial economic value in Abuja’s real estate market.
The heightened inspection, according to Nwankwoeze, is a component of larger reforms under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s “Renewed Hope Agenda,” which prioritizes institutional integrity, economic
