Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rep. Abbas Tajudeen, has inaugurated an ad hoc committee to identify, reactivate, and manage abandoned federal government landed properties for the benefit of citizens. Speaking on Tuesday at the inauguration of the House Ad-Hoc Committee on Abandoned Federal Government Landed Property, Tajudeen highlighted the importance of the committee, noting that over 11,000 government assets remain unused across the country.
He said the committee’s mandate includes verifying the authenticity of abandoned projects, reviewing previous presidential committee reports, and making far-reaching recommendations. Tajudeen urged the committee to carry out its work thoroughly and requested that all relevant government agencies provide the necessary information to support the investigation.
Chairman of the committee, Rep. Daniel Amos (LP-Kaduna), described the committee’s work as both an administrative and moral responsibility, stressing that these assets represent national resources and heritage. He noted that countless public properties lie underutilized or abandoned, representing missed opportunities for housing, revenue, and national development.
The committee’s mandate includes:
Identifying and verifying all abandoned federal government landed properties.
Establishing a centralized national database for accurate documentation and institutional memory.
Evaluating the financial, economic, and developmental impacts of abandoned assets.
Determining custodial and administrative responsibilities for the properties.
Examining administrative, budgetary, regulatory, and operational deficiencies that have hindered proper utilization.
Formulating actionable strategies for the recovery, rehabilitation, or productive use of assets.
Developing sustainable policies to address systemic weaknesses and prevent future abandonment.
Amos pledged that the committee would operate with diligence, transparency, and integrity, aiming to deliver outcomes that uphold the highest standards of legislative oversight. He emphasized that abandoned properties represent deferred development, lost revenue, and diminishing public trust.
The committee chairman called for the cooperation of all stakeholders to ensure a credible and effective process, stressing that these dormant assets should be transformed into engines of growth, sources of revenue, and symbols of renewed national stewardship.
