By Gloria Ikibah
The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Tajudeen Abbas, has inaugurated an ad-hoc committee to investigate abandoned Federal Government properties and unused buildings scattered across the country, signalling a renewed determination to put an end to the neglect and decay of national assets.
The inauguration, held at the National Assembly on Tuesday, underscored the focus of the 10th House in promotingintegrity, transparency, and accountability in the management of public resources. 
Speaker Abbas said the committee is saddled with the responsibility of identifying neglected federal properties, determining the reasons behind their abandonment, and recommending steps to recover and put them to productive use.
The Speaker, who was represented by the Chief Whip, Rep. Usman Bello Kumon, said the investigation covers the location, status, history, and current occupancy of all abandoned federal properties, alongside the policy failures that led to their abandonment.
Abbas tasked the Chairman of the committee, Rep. Daniel Amos, to be meticulous and fearless in identifying assets that have been left idle, mismanaged, encroached upon, or illegally acquired.
He emphasised that federal landed assets, from buildings to empty plots, must either be rehabilitated, converted to public use, or responsibly disposed of.
“We are committed to ensuring that no public property is left to decay or fall into neglect,. These facilities represent public wealth that must serve the country.
“The public expects honest findings and recommendations that will help the government stop waste and improve asset management. This responsibility calls for focus, patience, and a strong sense of national duty”, he said.
The Speaker also revealed plans for a long-term framework in partnership with the Executive to track, protect, and optimise federal properties nationwide.
Abbas urged the committee to engage ministries, agencies, host communities, and stakeholders, and vowed that the House will act on their recommendations.
“The 10th House will work with the Executive to establish a coordinated and transparent system for identifying, assessing, and restoring abandoned Federal Government properties.
“The eyes of the country are on you. Let your work reflect the expectations of Nigerians and inspire confidence in the legislative process”, added.
In his earlier remarks, Committee Chairman Rep. Amos reaffirmed the panel’s commitment to reclaiming and redeploying national assets that have been allowed to deteriorate across the country.
He noted that the task before the committee is both a national duty and a moral responsibility, pointing out that the many abandoned federal properties scattered nationwide amount to “lost opportunities” for development, housing, revenue generation, and wider public benefit.
Rep. Amos explained that the House has given the committee a clear timeline and a wide-ranging mandate to examine the state of these assets, recover them where necessary, and propose lasting reforms to improve how public properties are managed.
“This mandate is not merely administrative; it is a solemn responsibility to the Nigerian people, whose resources and heritage these assets represent,” he said.
He emphasised that the investigation would involve the full identification and verification of all abandoned federal landed properties across the country, with the aim of building a central, credible database, something Nigeria has never previously had.
Rep. Amos outlined the committee’s responsibilities, which include establishing a national inventory of abandoned assets; assessing the financial, economic, and developmental impact of their neglect; determining the MDAs responsible for each property; probing administrative, regulatory, and budgeting lapses; recommending recovery, rehabilitation, or productive reuse; and proposing long-term reforms to prevent future waste.
He added that the committee intends to deliver an evidence-based report within the allotted timeframe, ensuring that every recommendation supports national development and strengthens public accountability.
“Every abandoned property represents deferred development, lost revenue, and a diminishing of public trust. The work before us is not just technical, it is moral”, he stated.
The Chairman who pledged transparency, professionalism, and a “fidelity to public trust,” urged ministries, agencies, and stakeholders to cooperate fully.
Amos said the ultimate goal is to transform idle public properties into sources of growth rather than symbols of waste.
“Together, let us turn these dormant assets into engines of growth, sources of revenue, and symbols of renewed national stewardship,” he said.
