Allocate 753 duplexes linked to Emefiele to military personnel – Ex-presidential candidate
Allocate 753 duplexes linked to Emefiele to military personnel – Ex-presidential candidate
A presidential candidate in 2019 elections, Mr Ademola Babatunde, has advised the Federal Government to allocate the 753 duplexes recovered by EFCC from a former Governor of Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Mr Godwin Emefiele, to armed forces personnel.
Babatunde in a statement issued in Abuja on Thursday, urged the government not to sell the houses as earlier planned.
the Voice Media Trust (VMT NEWS) reports that the EFCC Chairman, Mr Ola Olukoyede, had recently handed over keys to the recovered housing units to the Minister of Housing and Urban Development, Ahmed Dangiwa.
Dangiwa, while receiving the keys, had said that the ministry would offer the housing units for sale, both to the public and for special government needs.
Babatunde, however, said that rather than selling the duplexes, government should allocate them to the brave and courageous” men of the armed forces.
According to him, the seized property will best serve the interest of the armed forces, in line with the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Tinubu.
“There is no gainsaying the fact that lots of the men and women in the armed forces have accommodation shortage which has been a huge challenge over the years.
“This will go a long way in alleviating the sufferings of our men and women in the armed forces, particularly the army, navy and air force.
“It will also boost the morale and drive of the men and women who daily put their lives on the line for the unity and survival of this country,” he said.
Babatunde further stated that allocating them to the armed forces would convince everyone that government was genuinely committed to the welfare of security personnel, not mere political statements.
“It is perhaps apposite to state that allocating the seized property will enhance the economic wellbeing of our courageous and committed men and women of the armed forces,” he said.
The politician said that the structures would provide shelter and security for the families of the men and women securing the country.
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Babatunde expressed concerns that given previous experiences witnessed in similar exercises in the past involving government officials, the sale of the property might lead to another avoidable case of corruption
“It must be stated that government has no business venturing into sale of the seized property, which will eventually find its way into the hands of corrupt government officials.
“The government can avoid this impeding monumental embezzlement and embarrassment by simply allocating the seized property to the men and women of the armed forces at a subsidised rate that will be deducted from their salaries over a long period of time,” he said.
The former presidential candidate further stated that it would be the first time in the history of the country that a civilian president would achieve such feat.
He, however, urged the minister of housing and urban development to remain focused and re-double his efforts at providing affordable housing for Nigerians.
