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From Juliana Taiwo-Obalonye, Abuja
Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has shut down the secretariat of the dissolved Ad-hoc Committee on the Sale of Federal Government Houses in the FCT, warning members of the public against fraudsters posing as officials of the defunct body.
The FCT Administration announced the closure on Wednesday, saying the secretariat had ceased operations with immediate effect following the completion of the committee’s assignment.
Under the new arrangement, the Department of Land Administration will assume responsibility for all matters relating to the sale of Federal Government houses in the nation’s capital.
Wike also approved the creation of a dedicated division within the department to handle the functions previously performed by the dissolved committee.
The move is aimed at establishing a clear administrative channel for applications, transactions and other matters concerning Federal Government houses while preventing unauthorised persons from exploiting the name of the former committee to defraud members of the public.
In a statement by his Senior Special Assistant on Public Communications and Social Media, Lere Olayinka, the minister directed members of the public to henceforth deal with the Department of Land Administration on all issues relating to the sale of Federal Government houses.
The ad-hoc committee was originally constituted to oversee the sale of Federal Government houses in the FCT. Although it completed its assignment, its secretariat was retained temporarily to attend to issues arising from its activities.
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The FCT Administration said that arrangement had now ended with the formal closure of the secretariat.
“With the formal closure of the Secretariat, the general public is enjoined to henceforth approach the Department of Land Administration on all issues relating to sale of Federal Government Houses in the FCT,” the statement said.
The administration warned prospective buyers and other members of the public to be cautious of individuals who might attempt to exploit the dissolution of the committee and its secretariat.
It specifically urged the public to disregard anyone claiming to be an official, staff member or representative of the former committee or its secretariat.
“The Committee and Secretariat no longer exist,” the administration said.
It stressed that all transactions and enquiries concerning the sale of Federal Government houses must now be directed to the Department of Land Administration.
This angle is stronger because the key news is not merely that Wike shut the secretariat, but that the FCT Administration has established a new channel for government-house transactions while issuing a direct fraud warning to prospective buyers.
