The opposition condemns FG’s N3 billion proposal to renovate forfeited property.

The federal government, led by President Bola Tinubu, has been criticised by the Labour Party and the African Action Congress for allocating N3 billion towards the renovation of two opulent properties in Abuja that were previously forfeited to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission.

The landed properties situated in the Federal Capital Territory’s Guzape and Mabushi regions were recovered by the EFCC along with other illicitly obtained assets and funds laundering proceeds, according to The PUNCH.

Yesterday, our correspondent obtained information that the recovered properties will be converted into State House complexes by the federal government.

The following is a component of the State House 2023 Supplementary Appropriations details that were submitted to the National Assembly for its approval.

President Tinubu had requested approval of the N2.17tn supplemental budget from the National Assembly on Tuesday.

On Monday, during its meeting, the Federal Executive Council granted approval to the budget.

The document specifies that N1.5 billion was allocated for the procurement, refurbishment, and rehabilitation of two properties. The EFCC relinquished space at Mabushi as the State House Complex.

An additional N1.5 billion was designated for the procurement, refurbishment, and renewal of two properties. At Guzape, EFCC forfeited quarters as the State House Complex.

Since the properties were forfeited to the FG, an impeccable source within the EFCC who spoke with our correspondent on the condition of anonymity stated that the federal government was solely responsible for their management and that the EFCC is tasked with arraigning suspects.

“Among other things, it is accurate that the EFCC assisted in obtaining the forfeiture of the properties. As the property was forfeited to the federal government, however, “only the presidency can determine how the properties will be managed,” the source explained.

The spokespersons for the LP Presidential Campaign Council and the National Publicity Secretary for the AAC, Yunusa Tanko and Olorunfemi Adeyeye, respectively, responded to the development in an exclusive interview with our correspondent yesterday. They stated that the action was evidence that the Tinubu administration does not care about the plight of the Nigerian masses, “the majority of whom have been subjected to multidimensional poverty.”

Tanko stated, “Nigerians must oppose this in its entirety; nobody should allocate such a substantial sum of money for the jamboree in the midst of hunger, poverty, and insecurity.” Nevertheless, this has been anticipated in advance; it has transpired previously and has been intertwined.”

Adeyeye, for his part, stated, “The Nigerian people must vehemently oppose this absurd initiative by the government led by Tinubu to spend N3 billion renovating two properties that were seized from political thieves.” Without a doubt, the aforementioned forfeited properties would have been reclaimed from individuals belonging to the same bourgeois social class as the President, regardless of their affiliation with the Peoples Democratic Party, the All Progressives Congress, or any of their affiliated organisations.

“However, as we have always maintained, now is yet another opportune moment for Nigerians to take to the streets and occupy the streets in opposition to the Tinubu-led government’s anti-people policies, which include, among others, the elimination of fuel subsidies and an increase in tuition fees at public tertiary institutions.”