By Chief Salisu Ogbo Usman, PhD.
Political Economy and Development Specialist
Writes from Lokoja, Kogi State
In the wake of the Federal Government’s recovery of 753 duplexes linked to the embattled former Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Mr. Godwin Emefiele, there has been an avalanche of public suggestions on how to put the high-value assets to national use. While many propose converting them into military barracks or selling them through competitive bidding, a more strategic and symbolic option deserves attention—converting the estate into a National Liaison Office for Local Government Areas (NLOFLGA) across Nigeria.
My proposal is that these properties be transformed into dedicated liaison offices and residential quarters for the 774 Local Government Areas (LGAs) in Nigeria. With only 753 duplexes recovered, the Federal Government can construct an additional 21 units to match the number of LGAs. This conversion would serve as a powerful national monument, highlighting both the depths of public sector corruption and the Federal Government’s determination to restore integrity and accountability in governance.
Designating these buildings as Liaison Offices for LGAs would give them a permanent footprint in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT). Each LGA would have a dedicated office space to interface directly with federal ministries, departments, and agencies (MDAs), as well as development partners. This institutional visibility will bridge the long-standing gap between the grassroots and federal governance structures, thereby strengthening Nigeria’s federal system.
Symbolically, these buildings will serve as a metaphor for the betrayal of public trust and a physical reminder of how stolen public wealth can be reclaimed and redirected to serve the common good. Future generations will look upon the estate as a living museum of anti-corruption—a beacon of transformation from rot to reform.
Pragmatically, the project need not strain public finances. The construction of the remaining 21 duplexes and the refurbishment of existing ones can be funded through a staggered deduction from the statutory federal allocations to LGAs. Spread over time, this approach minimizes the financial burden on local councils while investing in infrastructure that will serve them for decades.
Each cluster of duplexes can be grouped by state, allowing for ease of access, management, and collaboration among LGAs from the same geopolitical zone. This clustering can also foster inter-LGA partnerships and administrative efficiency in dealing with common development issues.
Moreover, the estate could serve as a cost-effective accommodation hub for visiting LGA chairpersons and delegations conducting official business in Abuja. This would reduce the heavy reliance on hotel bookings and cut costs in the long run, while also enhancing intergovernmental synergy.
There’s also an economic dimension. LGAs could explore ways to generate revenue from their designated units—either through short-term commercial leases or public-private partnerships—so long as such ventures align with their official mandates and do not compromise administrative functions.
Beyond the economic and administrative merits, this initiative could also foster national unity. Having all LGAs represented in one estate creates a physical and psychological space of unity in diversity. It reminds us that every corner of Nigeria has a stake and a voice in the nation’s capital and in its governance processes.
I, therefore, call on the Federal Government to consider this idea not merely as a use of recovered assets but as a legacy project. A project that not only redeems the image of governance in Nigeria but also strengthens the base of grassroots administration, making the local government system more visible, more relevant, and more impactful in our national development journey.
Contact: usmansalisuogbo9@gmail.com
HOW AND WHY THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT SHOULD CONVERT EMEFIELE’S 753 RECOVERED DUPLEXES TO A NATIONAL LIAISON OFFICES FOR THE 774 LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREAS IN NIGERIA
I wish to add my voice and opinion to the avalance of suggestions on how the Federal Government can handle the recovered “Emefiele’s Duplexes” for the benefit of the public.
While there is suggestion that it should be handed over to the Nigerian Military to serve as additional baracks for them, others have suggested outright sales through open competitive biding to the members of the public, amongst other enthusiastic suggestions to guide the Federal Government in taking decisions on the recovered corruption proceed from an embattled erstwhile public servant.
It is in response to such previous suggestions and opinions that i wish to proffer that the Federal Government convert the recovered 753 duplexes from the embattled former CBN Governor, Mr. Godwin Emefiele to a National Liason Office for Local Government Areas (NLOFLGA) for the 774 LGA in Nigeria.
It is my considered suggestion that the Federal Government can make up the deficit of the 21 duplexes, complete the building and allocate same to each of the LGA in Nigeria to serve as national monument and as a metaphorical reference even to the furure generations.
The strategic importance of converting the estate to a national asset by designating it as Liaison Offices and Residential Quarters for the 774 Local Government Areas (LGAs) in the country is that, it will continually serves as a metaphorical reference and exposition of betrayal of public trust by the public officers and the visible efforts of the Federal Government in the combative fight against the menace called corruption.
It therefore, becomes expeditient for the Government to designate the duplexes in clusters per State and dedicate each unit in each cluster to each Local Government Area.
If the suggestion is taken, the monument and the estate can also serve as additional source of revenue for each of the LGA, should they decide to put it up for commercial ventures.
To handle the project effortlessly, the cost of building the extra 21 units and completing the existing ones should be equitably deducted from the monthly federal allocations to LGAs over a period of time, in a way that minimises financial strain.
The gesture will further strenthen our federal system by ensuring national representation and Identity, as each Local Government will have a physical presence in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), symbolising national inclusiveness and strengthening the identity of LGAs as fundamental components of governance.
In addition, it will ensure administrative utility; as the estate can serve as official liaison offices for local governments to interface with federal ministries, agencies, and development partners, improving coordination and project follow-up.
It will also reduce expenses on accommodation; as the duplexes can serve as temporary accommodations for Local Government chairpersons, officials, or delegations visiting the FCT on official assignments, reducing public expenditure on hotel stays.
Finally, it can promote national unity; since having all LGAs represented in one location promotes intergovernmental collaboration and fosters a stronger bond and a sense of unity amongst the 774 LGAs in Nigeria.
I wish to, therefore, urge the Federal Government to consider this as not just an administrative option, but as a legacy project that gives every part of Nigeria a physical footprint in the capital and strengthens grassroots governance at the national level.
Chief Salisu Ogbo Usman, PhD, a Political Economy and Development specialist, writes from Lokoja, Kogi State
Email: usmansalisuogbo9@gmail.com
