In a press release signed by the Convener, Comrade Ademola Babatunde Abidemi, on Wednesday, the group urged the Minister for Housing and Urban Development, Mr. Ahmed Dangiwa, to consider allocating the estate to members of Nigeria’s Armed Forces instead of initiating a public sale.

The Youth Arise Movement (YAM) has called on the Nigerian government to shelve plans to sell a housing estate of 753 duplexes recovered from former Central Bank Governor, Mr. Godwin Emefiele.

In a press release signed by the Convener, Comrade Ademola Babatunde Abidemi, on Wednesday, the group urged the Minister for Housing and Urban Development, Mr. Ahmed Dangiwa, to consider allocating the estate to members of Nigeria’s Armed Forces instead of initiating a public sale.

The properties, allegedly acquired through proceeds of financial crimes, were officially handed over by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to the Ministry of Housing on May 20, 2025, during a brief ceremony held at the Ministry’s headquarters in Mabushi, Abuja.

The EFCC Chairman, Mr. Ola Olukoyede, had made the presentation to Minister Dangiwa in line with the Commission’s statutory mandate to recover assets linked to corruption.

While receiving the properties, Dangiwa commended the EFCC for its unrelenting efforts in asset recovery and anti-corruption initiatives. He further revealed the Ministry’s intentions to carry out a joint familiarisation tour and comprehensive structural integrity assessment of the estate to determine its habitability.

Following this, the Ministry plans to offer the duplexes for sale through a transparent, publicly advertised process, including using the Renewed Hope housing portal, allowing interested Nigerians to submit expressions of interest.

However, the Youth Arise Movement expressed serious reservations about the proposed sale, describing it as potentially counterproductive and vulnerable to corruption.

According to Abidemi, Nigeria’s armed forces, who risk their lives daily to maintain peace and unity, should be prioritised in the allocation of these housing units.

“It is my respectful opinion that rather than selling the duplexes, the Government should allocate them to the brave men in the armed forces,” said Abidemi.

“Many of them have suffered from accommodation shortages for years. Providing them with these homes will not only ease their hardship but will also significantly boost their morale and operational efficiency.”

He further emphasised that such a move would be historic and demonstrate the government’s genuine commitment to the welfare of military personnel, beyond mere rhetoric.

YAM’s statement also raised alarms about the possibility of corruption and abuse of process in the sale of the properties, citing past experiences where government asset sales were marred by bribery, favouritism, and fraud.

“On hindsight, I am apprehensive about the touted transparency in this proposed sale. Given the history of fraud and exploitation in similar past exercises, it is only a matter of time before the EFCC might again be called upon to investigate another round of asset mismanagement,” the Convener warned.

Abidemi called on President Bola Tinubu to align the handling of the seized estate with his Renewed Hope Agenda, emphasising that such a step would mark a landmark achievement in national security and welfare reform. According to him, allocating these homes to armed forces personnel at subsidised rates, with costs deducted gradually from salaries, would ensure fairness and long-term security for Nigeria’s military families.

“This will be the first time in the history of this country that a civilian President has made such a bold move for the benefit of our uniformed personnel. It will send a strong message of appreciation and recognition to the people who defend our nation,” he said.

The group also advised the Minister for Housing and Urban Development to intensify efforts to provide affordable housing for everyday Nigerians.

The group urged the government to avoid the pitfall of asset resale and instead, leverage the seized estate to address the long-standing housing crisis faced by Nigeria’s armed forces.

By doing so, the government would not only fulfil a critical need but also avert what the group described as “an impending monumental embezzlement and embarrassment.”