Editorial: Allocate forfeited properties to deserving Nigerians

The recent announcement by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) of the final forfeiture of 753 duplexes in Abuja is still reverberating across Nigeria, Africa and the globe.

The development, according to the anti-graft agency, is its highest recovery since inception in 2003.

The estate, measuring 150,500 square meters, was forfeited following a court order in Abuja, the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

Trusted with a public office, the unnamed public official whom the public suspect to be Godwin Emefiele, immediate past governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, apparently milked the nation dry, leaving penury and misery in its wake.

Human rights lawyer Pelumi Olajengbesi has made a compelling call to the Nigerian government to allocate these forfeited properties to deserving medical personnel, teachers and other civil servants.

Diaspora Digital Media wholeheartedly concur with this suggestion.

The Nigerian government has been grappling with the challenge of providing decent housing for its citizens, particularly for low-income earners and public servants.

The allocation of these forfeited properties will go a long way in addressing this challenge.

Moreover, it will demonstrate the government’s commitment to fighting corruption and promoting transparency.

Olajengbesi’s proposal is also in line with the government’s policy of promoting social justice and equality.

By allocating these properties to deserving Nigerians, the government will be promoting a sense of fairness and justice.

It will also send a strong message that the government is committed to using recovered assets for the benefit of the people, rather than selling them off to the highest bidder.

We commend Olajengbesi for his thoughtful suggestion and urge the Nigerian government to consider it seriously.

The allocation of these forfeited properties to deserving medical doctors and civil servants will be a significant step towards promoting transparency, accountability, and social justice in Nigeria.

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