FHA Gears Up to Revolutionize Housing Sector, Decries Shortchange of Estate, Land Owners

ThankGod EMEH…

The Federal Housing Authority, FHA in well calculated efforts to arrest issues surrounding shortchanging of Estate and land owners across the country has called on all concerned citizens to approach the Authority for Verification of their properties.

The Executive Director, Estate Services of FHA Nigeria, Arc. Nya-Etok Ezekiel made the call in a press conference on Friday, September 13, 2024 in Owerri where he emphasized the urgent need for “House and Land Verifications in South East” as being done in other regions of the country, describing the exercise as the first imprint of a digitalized ownership structure, where “FHA shall take back its estates, manage them and engage with Resident associations and bring them to become development partners in attempts to restore the glory of the estates”

According to Arc. Ezekiel, the call was arrived at on discovering that people now loose their hard earned properties which include lands and estates due to multiple allocations on same properties unknown to them, hence “the need for people to have digital imprints on their houses and on their lands”, adding that all lands, estates and their marketing lies under his watch, hence he would pursue it to a successful and peaceful conclusion.

“There are some estates that have been extremely contentious and many people have run away from them. People have ran away from Lower Irete hence we have robustly engage with Resident associations and explained the need for the verification to them because a lot of Nigerians have become victims due to ignorance”

Arc. Nya-Etok Ezekiel

“One of the most important assets in life is your land or your house and many reasons apart from ownership is a Transaction Instrument such as Title, and Approval for the house but painfully our people have bought lands that they will never have title to because one can only have Title where the seller already has a Title”

He applauded the diligent works of the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, Hon. Oyetude Ojo who he described as a result oriented fellow whose insights and policies in FHA has continued to yield outstanding results in the housing Sector.

“It takes a man of courage to put things right. He has always done more fantastic works than one can imagine but he has delegated me to come and represent him on a function that falls directly under my Directorate which is Estate Services”

“Our team of Executive Directors led by Indefatigable Managing Director, Hon. Oyetude Ojo has embarked on one Agenda which is to repostion FHA as a prime Housing Delivery organ of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

“FHA in the past has made apprecable strides in establishing some of the most reknowned estates both in this country and beyond. One can not forget in a hurry what Festac was, years ago, it was a beauty to behold and attracted foreign visitors, Festac is one of the FHA Estates. Gwarinpa on the other hand, is widely reported to be one of the biggest Estates in the Western Sub-region of Africa. It is also FHA Estate.

Recounting the FHA properties in Imo state, Arc. Ezekiel said there has been a seeming negligence which has resulted in several problems and challenges such as dilapidation of houses and insfrastructures in the Estates.

“There are over 50 Estates of the Authority across the Country. Right here in Owerri alone, FHA has 5 Estates namely; Egbeada, Graceland, Arugwo, Lower Irete and Aladima Estates.

“the challenge of unwholesome practices leading to multi-allocations of one land to different people which has caused customers loss of thousands, if not millions in naira and also loss of quantifiable time arising from avoidable litigations.

“All these challenges led to Hon. Oyetunde Ojo as of MD/CE to take bold steps to commernce Digitalization of all authority’s processes and records. So that house and land owners will have Digital imprints that will enable them have peace of mind and security desirable over their properties. It is on account of the above, we embarked on what is externally seen as verification but in effect and practice, it is geared towards having digital imprints of our lands and houses.

“This process which is sectioned in zones has taken off in NC Zone where the coporate Headquarters is, Abuja, It has also taken off in SW Zone in Lagos State.

“We therefore call on our allottees to come to the office and have their properties verified.
The committee operates in 2 sections; House verfication and land verification. What takes off today is the House Verification and in the coming weeks, the land verification will commenee. This is to ensure orderlines as the Authority is extremely careful to ensure everything is done orderly and decently.

“We hope to have all Residents Assocation as partners and together we shall restore the prides, dignity, security and status of our Estates. The challenges are enourous but we are ready to take them Bull by the Horn. This is the marching order of the MD/CEO and we the Executive Management Team are in Sync with this noble directive of Our MD/CEO, Hon. Oyetunde Ojo.

“Within the past few Months we came to Office, we have undertaken a tour of at least 26 states meeting the State Governors one on one and having extensive deliberations with them, and almost in all of the meetings, obtaining viable lands for Housing Projects that have reached advanced stages leading to implementation, Imo State is one of those states and we can not but commend the attention and warm reception received from the Governor of the state Mr. Hope Uzodinma.

“In the coming weeks or days, somethingl extremely fulfilling will be happening in the construction of Estates that indigences of the state will be proud of.