Posted by By LUCKY NWANKWERE, Abuja on
The Federal Government has earmarked 700 houses for sale on commercial to the highest bidder in Lagos alone as against the 270 formerly declared by the sacked Housing Minister, Mrs Mobolaji Osomo.
The Federal Government has earmarked 700 houses for sale on commercial to the highest bidder in Lagos alone as against the 270 formerly declared by the sacked Housing Minister, Mrs Mobolaji Osomo.
The Federal Executive Council which met in Abuja Wednesday under the chairmanship of Vice President Atiku Abubakar decided on this after approving the harmonised guidelines for the sale of government properties all over the federation.
The Minister of Works, Senator Adeseye Ogunlewe who briefed State House correspondents on the outcome of the meeting in this regard, said all the properties are now open for sale to members of the public.
He said the decision was in line with government's resolve not to hold on to properties that were not part of the core responsibilities of government, adding that only institutional buildings, State House, Dodan Barracks, houses occupied by judges serving in Lagos as well as properties allocated to the African Union and United Nations agencies are exempted from the public sale.
'Those building that will not be affected are as follows: State House, Dodan Barracks, vice president's house and all the adjoining houses, houses occupied by Federal High Court judges that are based in Lagos, properties excluded specifically through government directive, properties approved for redevelopment, properties allocated to the African Union and currently in use and properties allocated to the United Nations agencies and currently in use," he stated.
The Minister in charge of the Federal Capital Terrritory, Mallam Nasir El-Rufai who also briefed on the issue, said the guidelines for the sale of government properties in Lagos and Abuja are virtually the same. The only difference, according to him, is that while the Abuja sale is driven by monetisation policy that of Lagos is driven by commercialisation.
Reiterating that all the house in Lagos are open to the general public to bid, he explained, however, that for any occupant to enjoy the right of first refusal in the sale of the houses, he must show proof of occupation and payment of rent on the property for 12 months.
Another major decision of the council was the award of three key contracts to combat flood and erosion menace in some states of the federation, namely Enugu, Ekiti and Abia.
Ogulewe gave the contracts as the Ozalla and Obi flood and erosion control infrastructure in Nkanu Local Government Area of Enugu State approved for award at a cost of N559.6 million, the construction of erosion control structure in Ilupeju Ekiti, in Ekiti State for N403,2 million as well as the construction of Agboha-Okwoko-Mkporo flood and erosion control infrastructure in Abia State for N30.7 million.
Also, the council reviewed upward the contract approval limits of the management of NIPOST headed by the Postmaster-General from the present N700,000 to N5 million.