By Babatunji Wusu
• Two vetting committees inaugurated to address land and housing allocation issues
• Move aims to restore transparency and accountability in property sales
• Irregularities identified include improper documentation, late payments, and poor coordination
• Park plot titling under review to align with current land reform policies
• Committees to operate under strict ministerial directives with defined mandates
The Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) has inaugurated two vetting committees tasked with addressing longstanding irregularities in the sale of federal government-owned houses and the titling of designated park plots in Abuja. This strategic move is part of a broader effort to restore transparency and accountability to the FCT’s land and housing administration processes.
The inauguration was conducted by the Director of Land Administration, Chijioke Nwankwoeze, on Saturday at his office in Abuja. According to Nwankwoeze, the committees were formed under the directive of the FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike, following the discovery of significant lapses in past transactions. These lapses include deviations from approved mandates, poor verification processes, incomplete documentation, delayed payments, and ineffective coordination between departments.
A statement issued by the Assistant Director of Information and Customer Service, Badaru Yakassai, noted that these failures have undermined public trust and distorted the implementation of the federal government’s 2003–2005 monetisation and property sales policy.
One of the committees will specifically review all previous sales of federal government houses within the FCT, with a clear objective to realign the process with original policy frameworks. “The goal is to restore order, accountability, and transparency,” Nwankwoeze stated, reinforcing the administration’s commitment to due process.
The second committee will focus on reviewing the titling of park plots across the territory. Its work includes ensuring that the Department of Parks and Recreation’s activities conform to the administration’s evolving land reform agenda. This is aimed at resolving the legal and administrative ambiguities that have hampered proper land use and park development in recent years.
Nwankwoeze described the committees’ establishment as a “bold and irreversible step,” emphasizing that the FCT Administration is resolute in its determination to rectify the inconsistencies plaguing land and housing allocations.
He further expressed confidence in the success of the initiative, citing the FCT Minister’s political will and alignment with the broader objectives of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda. “This administration has the political commitment and institutional backing to bring these reforms to a logical conclusion,” he stated.
The committees are expected to complete their assignments within a defined time frame, paving the way for a more credible, transparent, and effective land administration system in the FCT.
