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President Bola Tinubu has approved the allocation of plots of land in Abuja to the 65 newly appointed Ambassadors and High Commissioners- designate.
In this report, some Nigerians described the allocation as uncalled for and a bad precedence.
There shouldn’t be preferential treatment for anyone – Joseph Kwaghdega, journalist; Makurdi
The most important thing is for those in authority to prioritise welfare of the masses more than blessing those who are already blessed. Federal Government needs to make housing scheme most affordable for the civil servants and residents in Abuja and other states in the country.
The major problem people are facing in urban centres is housing deficit. Rent is skyrocketing beyond the reach of ordinary Nigerians, making some to abandon cities to return to rural communities where insecurity has taken over. We can’t make any headway if political leaders do not care about those who bring them to power, but keep amassing wealth for themselves.
Ambassadors and High Commissioners – designate are also citizens and public servants, so there should not be any preferential treatment for them.
Nothing special about ambassadors to merit free land -Emmanuel Adakole, a teacher; Makurdi
It is unfortunate what the priority of the Nigerian government is. Many Nigerians are groaning in pain over the excruciating sufferings caused by subsidy removal and increased taxes by President Tinubu.
What is special about ambassadors compared to civil servants who have put in all their lives in the service of the nation? There is nothing special about them to merit free allocation of land.
Soldiers, doctors, nurses, farmers, teachers more deserving of free land – Elder Sunday Oibe, Chairman, Northern Christian group; Kaduna
It is very sad, very uncomfortable and expression of leadership disconnects from reason for being ‘elected ‘ into the office of President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. Is there any of those ambassadors who couldn’t afford a plot of land in Abuja? Why is President Tinubu provoking Nigerians to anger? He should allocate plots of land to the men of armed forces both file and ranks that are on the field battling insurgency. He should give the same to doctors and nurses in our public hospitals. He should extend the same gesture to our farmers in the rural areas in the 774 LGAs, market women, helpless widows and above all, those poor teachers whose salaries are being owed into months, etc. This hypocrisy of spending tax payers’ money on the already privileged individuals at the expense of the masses is unacceptable.
FG misplacing priorities – Ada Chima, public affairs analyst; Aba
In Nigeria, things are always done the other way round. What is the meaning of giving plots of land in Abuja to Ambassadors-designate, who are going to serve in foreign countries? What do they need plots of land in Abuja for? Why must we be doing things that always make us laughing stock before other nations? This is unheard of, giving plots of land in Abuja to people who are going to serve in other countries. This government has been misplacing priorities. The Federal Government has been crying over paucity of funds to execute vital projects and the country has been borrowing money without constraint. These 65 plots of land meant for the Ambassadors-designate must be in a choice area of the city, they should be sold instead and use the money for other pressing needs.
President setting dangerous precedence – Phoebe Egbu, public servant; Aba
I wonder what President Bola Tinubu had in mind when he approved the 65 plots of land, which I believe must be in choice area of Abuja, to the 65 Ambassadors-designate. What purpose does that gesture stand to serve because I don’t believe there is none of the Ambassadors-designate who does not have plots of land in Abuja. Some of them were former governors, who just left office three years ago. Even if any of them does not have or own a property in Abuja, should that be a criterion for their posting?
One may be tempted to ask if governments of the countries where they are going to serve made ownership of landed property in Abuja as pre-requisite for their posting. The president by this is setting a dangerous precedence, that each time ambassadors are appointed, they would be given plots of land in Abuja and by then, half of the plots of land in the capital city would be owned by former and serving ambassadors.
It is to motivate them to put in their best – Ekeleyede Rick Odion, politician; Benin
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The president has not done badly at all. I believe that the gesture is to encourage the ambassadors and the commissioners to put in their best, defend their country in whichever countries they deployed to. So, to me, it is a good thing and if there is any need for the president to also extend same gesture to other people in his cabinet, I don’t think it is a bad idea. He should go ahead and do it.
This is another wastage by Tinubu – Dada Ayokhai, lecturer; Benin
How many of the ambassadors and commissioners- designate are poor? Now, they will get extra land to sell at any convenient time to the highest bidder. While people are struggling around in Abuja to make a living, you are dashing them land. For doing what? What have they done? Is it for a job well done or a job that is about to be done? Three quarters of them are not even qualified for that position.
Now, without even resuming, you are giving them free land. Are you begging them to serve us or we are the ones begging them? So, it is another form of wastage. It’s another form of wastage by President Tinubu.
Whether he is buying them or selling them. I don’t see any usefulness in them that he will give them land. For what? Are they civil servants? They are not civil servants. They are all politicians. Many of them have houses in Nigeria, houses in Abuja, houses in Lagos, houses in Ife. What is the benefit of giving them land? They have been abroad since. Giving land for what? What are their contributions?
President is not in tune with what is happening in Nigeria – Apostle John Amaowoh, publisher; Port Harcourt
I think the backdrop of the president’s intention and approval is wrongly time, given the fact that so many Nigerians are suffering untold hunger and poverty in the land. Approving the allocation of plots of land in Abuja to 65 newly appointed ambassadors shows that the president is not in tune with what is happening in the country. Is this part of a system to rig the forthcoming election or a strategic system that the FCT minister is using to gain the president’s favour?
Do the 65 ambassadors-designate lack houses or accommodation? I believe only time shall tell. I wish them well.
This is culture of ‘settlement’ for select few – Abraham Dukuma, veteran journalist; Port Harcourt
This government believes in the culture of ‘settlement’ for a select few, leaving undone what it should do to address the troubling situation in the country.
Recently, the FCT Minister, Nysom Wike revoked ownership of land genuinely acquired by citizens in the FCT. Alas, the same land so recovered, ostensibly for overriding public interest, is being redistributed to their acolytes to suit their whims and caprices in a most controversial manner, which this current exercise of sharing to the 65 ambassadorial nominees represents.
The gift is needless – Tife Owolabi, journalist; Yenagoa
The government is not sensitive to everyday Nigerians who are struggling with the high costs of living and inadequate infrastructure. Why it is good to motivate workers through such gestures? The question is how many civil servants who put in 35years of service enjoy such motivation? The answer is in the negative. This is a government of the elites and cronies and not the masses. This has shown that President Tinubu government doesn’t care for the masses. The gift is needless and coupled with timing.
It’s a lawless thing to do – Innocent Iruka, businessman; Abuja
It is a lawless thing to do. Come to think of it, everybody on that list can afford to buy choice lands. There is no way people on that list don’t own lands or property in Abuja. It is needless to give them lands, but this thing happens because of the high level of corruption in the country.
If we are in a sane clime, where things work properly, you will ask what they need land for? It is part of the plot to make people work for the government in 2027. It is part of committing people to ensure they work to deliver their unit.
Since we condemn the action, some people would also say that it is part of efforts to develop the new five districts mapped out in Abuja. It might be a way to push development to that area. But some people deserve such gestures, not ambassadors. What happened to the heroes, the people who fought for this country? Military officers killed on the front line. What is the Federal Government giving the family? Every time the elite think about only themselves and not the masses.
