Real Estate Developers Call for Investigation into FHA Leadership
The Federation of Real Estate Developers in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) has formally requested an inquiry into Mr. Oitunde Ojo, the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of the Federal Housing Authority (FHA). The developers accuse him of land grabbing, extortion, and administrative misconduct.
This appeal was expressed in a statement from Coalition Coordinator Benjamin Yamsa and Public Affairs Secretary Nofisat Kareem. They emphasized the urgent need for presidential and legislative intervention due to what they describe as deliberate delays in the processing of the Land Development Approval Scheme, which has led to significant economic losses and increasing interest on bank loans.
According to the developers, Ojo’s leadership at the FHA has not only caused financial damages but has also resulted in stalled projects amounting to billions of naira. They attribute this outcome to allegations of land grabbing and extortion, alongside a series of ongoing court cases challenging these practices.
The statement pointed out that many pending applications for approval at the FHA were nearing resolution but were deliberately delayed. This stagnation, they claimed, is linked to the encroachment of legally acquired land by factions allegedly collaborating with the FHA’s current leadership.
The ongoing encroachments have impeded development, forcing developers into protracted legal battles and amplifying financial burdens from loans secured for property initiatives. The coalition noted that numerous cases are currently unresolved in various High Courts in Abuja, relating to claims of trespass and the unlawful distribution of FHA-sanctioned land.
In their statement, the developers urgently urged the President to take action against what they termed an organized group of perpetrators within the FHA, led by Ojo. They contended that due process is being undermined, complicating the regulatory framework governing FHA land development.
The coalition also called for the appropriate Senate and House committees to closely examine the FHA leadership’s efforts, demanding that steps be taken to restore integrity within the housing sector. They affirmed their commitment to the government’s development initiatives while expressing concern that Ojo’s actions threaten to disrupt the government’s New Hope Agenda for affordable housing.
As of the article’s publication, attempts to reach Ojo for comment were unsuccessful, as calls to his phone went unanswered.
