Abuja Housing and Land Titling: FCTA Moves to Eliminate Corruption and Boost Transparency

The purpose of establishing investigating committees is to rectify anomalies, increase public confidence, and return to the initial monetization strategy.

In a daring attempt to promote accountability and transparency, the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) established two committees to examine the land titling of park plots in Abuja and the sale of homes owned by the Federal Government after it was discovered that previous transactions had numerous irregularities.

Officials claim the action is a direct reaction to ministerial orders following the identification of “serious infractions and deviations” from the authorized procedures controlling the sale of government properties in the capital.

The revelation was revealed by FCTA Director of Land Administration Chijioke Nwankwoeze during the weekend’s inauguration event for the two vetting committees at his office.

He said the committees were formed with FCT Minister Nyesom Wike’s consent to address systemic shortcomings and rebuild public trust in the management of land and housing.

A statement detailing the violations found was signed by the FCTA’s Assistant Director of Information and Customer Service, Badaru Yakassai.

These include difficulties that have weakened trust and efficiency in Abuja’s real estate transactions, such as deviations from the authorized monetization mandate, subpar verification procedures, late payments, poor interdepartmental cooperation, and egregiously inadequate documentation.

“The committee’s objective is to restore accountability, transparency, and order in accordance with the federal government’s initial framework for sales and monetization policies from 2003 to 2005,” Nwankwoeze stated.

Under the administration of former President Olusegun Obasanjo, the first committee was expressly tasked with auditing the sale of federal government properties to ascertain conformity with the monetization strategy. The goal of that program was to establish a systematic and open procedure for civil officials to turn government-owned properties into privately held assets.

But according to new research, there were several irregularities in the process, including purported record tampering, incorrect distribution, and speculative purchases by people and organizations who weren’t the intended policy goal.

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A controversial topic given the FCT’s continuous urban growth, the titling of specified park plots will be the focus of the second committee. For land titling to be in line with the FCTA’s present land reform goal, it will collaborate closely with the Department of Parks and Recreation.

“This is an audacious and irrevocable move,” Nwankwoeze said.

In addition to making sure that these assets are managed in the public interest, the administration is totally dedicated to resolving outstanding concerns pertaining to the sale of government property and the use of public land.

With the full political support of the FCT Minister, he said, the committees were provided with precise terms of reference, deadlines, and institutional support to enable them to efficiently fulfill their mandates.

The decision is deemed appropriate by those involved in land management and real estate. A forensic investigation of the monetization process and a comprehensive overhaul of land titling procedures have long been demanded by numerous experts due to the fact that property ownership in the FCT is frequently entangled in opacity, overlapping claims, and inadequate paperwork.

According to analysts, the system’s reopening might also draw reliable investments, lower the possibility of corruption in government asset transfers, and unlock substantial economic value in Abuja’s real estate market.

Nwankwoeze claims that the heightened inspection is a component of larger reforms under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s “Renewed Hope Agenda,” which prioritizes academic integrity, economic