Politicians take over houses meant for flood victims

The 235 housing units constructed for victims of the 2012 flood disaster in Kogi are being occupied by politicians and other unintended beneficiaries.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the houses, located at Old Polytechnic Quarters, Lokoja, comprise two-bedroom and one-bedroom flats.

The estate was built with donations received from the Federal Government, corporate organisations and other philanthropists.

NAN, however, reports the houses had been converted to other uses including nursery and primary schools and other purposes different from what they were built for.

Some of the illegal occupants were discovered to control between two and three houses at the expense of the people they were meant for.

Some of the victims of the disaster, who spoke to NAN, expressed disappointment on the manner the issue was handled by previous government in the state.

They complained that the former administration of the state had reneged on its promise to allocate the houses to them before vacating office.

Mr Yakubu Abubakar, a victim, said he had been waiting endlessly for the house and urged the state government to distribute them to the affected persons.

Another victim, Mr Ohiani Gomina, said although allocation letters had been distributed to the affected persons, they could not move in due to government’s failure to eject the illegal occupants.

Mrs Aminatu Saleh, also a victim, said it was disheartening that the state government could not fulfil its promise four years after the incident.

She urged the government and other stakeholders to come to their aid, alleging that most of the houses had been allocated to politicians and other influential persons.

When contacted, the Special Adviser to the Governor on Media and Strategy, Alhaji Abdulkarim Abdulmalik, said Gov. Alhaji Yahaya Bello, was aware of the problem.

``We are going to look into the matter to ensure justice, the houses belong to the victims of the 2012 flood disaster.

``The victims will get the houses back,’’ Abdulmalik stressed.

He said the problem was one of the numerous inherited from the immediate past administration, assuring that the issue would be investigated soon.