Residents of the Federal Housing Estates along Ningi Road in Bauchi State staged a peaceful protest on Tuesday to reject an alleged plan to allocate over 270 housing units to the Nigerian Air Force (NAF).
The housing project, initiated in 2016 under the National Housing Programme (NHP) of former President Muhammadu Buhari, aimed to provide affordable housing to civil servants and low-middle-income earners Nigerians.
LEADERSHIP learned that the Federal Ministry of Housing and Urban Development has issued a final eviction notice to individuals described as ‘illegal occupants’ of the NHP site in Bauchi, giving them 48 hours to vacate the premises.
During the protest, Secretary of the Committee of Residents, Muhammad Kabir, expressed outrage over the move, saying that residents had followed due process including filling out Expression of Interest (EOI) forms, paying N10,000 each, and receiving house keys from the Federal Ministry of Housing in Bauchi.
“We fulfilled all requirements and were issued keys. We’re shocked to learn the houses may now be sold to the Nigerian Air Force.
“Some of us have lived here for years, five, six, or even two years. We deserve fairness and transparency,” he added.
He appealed to the President Bola Tinubu and the Minister of Housing and Urban Development to urgently intervene in their plights.
Another resident, Mohammed Alfa, a federal civil servant, revealed that he has been contributing to the national housing scheme since 2004 through monthly deductions from his salary.
“I submitted all required documents and waited for years. Now we’re hearing that the homes are being sold to the Air Force without any notice to us. This is not just disappointing, it’s heartbreaking,” he said.
He added, “I live here with my family, five children. We are asking where do we go? How do we start over after years of commitment?”
Also, Barrister Alkasim Muhammad, a legal practitioner and human rights advocate based in Bauchi, said the residents sought his support after receiving sudden eviction threats in some cases, notices to vacate.
“This raises serious concerns about legality and due process. The National Housing Programme was meant to serve everyday Nigerians, not institutions like the Air Force that already have their own housing schemes,” he said.
He said diverting the houses to a military institution undermines the constitutional responsibility of the government to protect citizens’ welfare.
“We are reviewing legal options and will explore all lawful avenues to protect the rights of residents. This is about justice, accountability, and the rule of law,” Barr. Alkamis assured.
He called for transparency and a resolution that protects the rights of citizens under the original purpose of the National Housing Programme.
In his response, the Federal Controller of Housing in Bauchi, Arc. Nwamadu Herbertson told journalists that the EOI forms were distributed free of charge, and no funds were collected by the Ministry.
“After receiving the forms, we forwarded them to the headquarters for further processing. Unfortunately, many applicants failed to meet the final requirements within the stipulated timeframe,” he said.
According to him, all provisional offers were revoked in April following a nationwide directive affecting multiple housing sites under the same programme.
Regarding the alleged sale of the housing unit to the Nigerian Air Force, he clarified, “There are ongoing transactions at the headquarters level.”
He advised journalists to direct further inquiries to the Ministry’s headquarters for accurate and up-to-date information.
Nwamadu confirmed that the occupants had previously been served eviction notices on four separate times.
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