House Summons NSIA CEO over Funds for Low-income Earners’ Homes

Juliet Akoje in Abuja

The House of Representatives yesterday summoned the Managing Director of Nigeria Sovereign Investment Authority (NSIA) and heads of 11 affiliate companies over the management of public resources for the provision of affordable/social homes for the low-income earners in Nigeria.

The invitation which was sent via a letter with Reference No: HR/PAC/SCOS/9NASS/QUE.64/56 dated 30th November, 2022, was targeted at revisiting the Auditor General for the Federation’s Annual Report on the management of resources for the provision of affordable/social homes in Nigeria by Family Homes Fund Limited.

The letter reads: “I refer to our letter Ref. No. HR/PAC/SCO5/9NASS/QUE.62/84 dated 18th November, 2022 inviting you to appear before the Committee on Friday 25h November, 2022 on the above subject matter. In view of the above, the Committee is in receipt of your correspondence with Ref. No. NSIA/NAS/HCPA/022/01 dated November 25, 2022 and resolved to request for a soft copy and 15 hard copies of a written brief on each of the following subsidiaries and Investment Companies of NSIA to enable the Committee carry-out its Legislative mandate.

The 11 companies summoned by the Committee includes: NSIA Motorways Investment Company; FGF Private Equity Co. Limited; FGF PE Beta Limited; FGF Investment Limited; NSIA Property Investment company Ltd; NSIA Power Investment Company Ltd; NSIA Agriculture Investment Company Ltd; LUTH Advanced Medical Service Ltd; FMCU Advanced Medical Diagnostic Ltd; AKTH Advanced Medical Diagnostic Limited and NSIA Healthcare Development and Investment Company Ltd.

“A new date has been fixed for your appearance. You are to cause appearance before the Committee on Monday 12th December, 2022 at 11:00am” the letter reads.

The Committee during its hearing also requested for relevant approvals from the Minister of Finance, Budget and National Planning, Dr. Zainab Ahmed authorizing NSIA to grant loan of N1.5 billion to Family Homes on interest free basis.

The audit report revealed that the total capital funding of Family Homes between 2018 and 2020 stands at N65 billion was paid by Federal Ministry of Finance, Budget and National Planning, representing 13 per cent of N500 billion seed capital promised by the Federal Government for provision of affordable homes for low-income earners in the country. And that the sum of N1.500 billion as a take-off credit grant from Nigeria Sovereign Investment Authority (NSIA) in 2017.

“During project inspection visits in Delta, Kaduna, Kano, Nasarawa and Ogun States that FHFL proposed to build 3,289 legacy homes, only 2,107 homes were completed, out of which only 675 homes were sold, representing 32% 0f the total completed as at 31st December, 2020”

The report further revealed that the company awarded contract prices were higher than the capped cost limit, there was discrepancies in the cost of the houses.

According to the audit report, total sum of N3,230,403,000 was generated internally by Family Homes from sales of homes, income from investment, among others between 2017 and 2020. The internally generated incomes were plough back to capital for provision of more homes.

Audit review of the Project Status Report revealed that FHFL proposed to build 3,289 legacy homes in Delta, Kaduna, Kano, Nasarawa and Ogun States between year 2018 to 2020.

However, the report and projects Inspections revealed that only 2,107 homes were completed homes as at 31st December, 2020 were sold instead of the 70% stated in section 3.1.4(1) of the FHFL Operational plan 2020. A total of 1,432 homes completed representing 68% remained unsold.

Audit however observed that out of N16,983,308,000 projected to be recouped from the completed homes, only N6,059,268,000 had so far been recouped, leaving outstanding sum of N10,924,040,000 due to the company’s inability to sell the remaining 1,432 completed homes as at 31st December, 2020.