Lawmakers Decry Abandonment Of Govt Property Worth N20tr

The House of Representatives has decried the abandonment of thousands of federal government properties and projects across the country, estimated to be worth more than ₦20 trillion.

In a motion of urgent public importance sponsored by Minority Leader Kingsley Chinda, the lawmakers warned that the continued neglect of public assets poses serious economic and security risks.

In his lead debate, Chinda cited a 2021 report by the Nigerian Institute of Quantity Surveyors, which identified about 11,866 abandoned sites, representing roughly 63 percent of all federal projects and buildings initiated since Nigeria’s independence.

According to him, among the major sites listed are the Federal Secretariat Complex in Ikoyi, Lagos, the Millennium Tower and National Library buildings in Abuja, as well as several industrial and livestock centres in Kaduna, Delta, Ogun, and Taraba states.

He described the situation as a colossal waste of public resources, noting that many of the projects have deteriorated due to neglect, inflation, and outdated designs.

Adopting the motion, the House urged the federal government to adopt public-private partnerships and other innovative funding strategies to complete or repurpose the abandoned projects.

It also resolved to constitute a special ad hoc committee to review previous reports, verify the current condition of the properties, and make recommendations within six weeks for further legislative action.

Oduyemi Odumade, Edited By Grace Namiji