The Federal Ministry of Housing and Urban Development has categorically rejected allegations suggesting that it has transferred 270 newly built housing units along the Ningi-Kano Road to the Nigerian Air Force (NAF).
Mr. Nwamadu Herbert, the esteemed State Controller of the Ministry, discredited the accusations while engaging with journalists on Friday in Bauchi.
The Bauchi State Concerned Citizens Group staged a vociferous protest against the alleged transfer of the residences to the NAF, demanding justice.
Nwamadu elucidated that while conversations with the NAF are still underway, no formal transfer of ownership has been concluded, as the ministry is awaiting directives from its central office.
“The houses remain in the custody of the ministry,” he stated emphatically.
He referred to the protesters as ‘illegal occupants’ and clarified that temporary allocations were exclusively awarded to legitimate allottees who met the designated requirements within a 90-day period.
He noted that the choice to rescind offers to defaulters on April 1 was extensively publicized and challenged any protester to provide legitimate allocation documents.
Meanwhile, the Concerned Citizens group, spearheaded by Mr. Aliyu Ladan, has unwaveringly maintained that the alleged sale jeopardizes the welfare of Bauchi workers.
Ladan characterized the action as “regrettable and unlawful,” asserting that the houses are part of a 1,000-unit initiative initiated by former President Muhammadu Buhari to address workers’ accommodation dilemmas.
He appealed to President Bola Tinubu for intervention and the annulment of the rumored agreement, warning that such actions could provoke unrest.
He implored the government to prioritize the rights and well-being of residents over institutional negotiations.
