Ministry Denies Selling Bauchi Housing Units to Air Force, Labels Protesters ‘Illegal Occupants’
Ministry Denies Selling Bauchi Housing Units to Air Force, Labels Protesters ‘Illegal Occupants’
By Matthew Eloyi
The Federal Ministry of Housing and Regional Development has debunked claims that it sold 270 newly constructed housing units along the Ningi-Kano Road in Bauchi to the Nigerian Air Force (NAF).
Addressing journalists in Bauchi on Friday, the State Controller of the Ministry, Mr. Nwamadu Herbert, said there had been no transfer of ownership, clarifying that discussions with the NAF were still ongoing and subject to final directives from the Ministry’s headquarters.
“The houses remain under the custody of the ministry,” Herbert said, responding to protests by the Bauchi State Concerned Citizens Group, which had accused the Ministry of covertly selling the homes to the military and demanded justice.
The group, led by Mr. Aliyu Ladan, argued that the housing units were originally intended for civil servants as part of a 1,000-unit project initiated by former President Muhammadu Buhari to address workers’ accommodation challenges.
Read Also: Bauchi citizens protest alleged sale of workers’ housing estate to NAF
Describing the move as “unfortunate and illegitimate,” Ladan claimed the deal undermined the welfare of Bauchi workers. He urged President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to intervene and nullify what he called a “purported deal,” warning that the development could stir unrest if not reversed.
In response, Herbert described the protesters as “illegal occupants,” stating that only individuals who had fulfilled the Ministry’s stipulated requirements within a 90-day window were granted provisional allocation.
He noted that all offers to defaulters had been revoked as of April 1, and that the decision was widely publicised. “Let any protester come forward with valid allocation documents,” he challenged.
While tensions continue to simmer, the Ministry maintains that no final agreement has been reached with the Nigerian Air Force, and that the housing units remain under federal control pending further directives.
