After more than three decades of delay, the Federal Government has finally fulfilled its promise of housing allocations to members of the historic 1994 Super Eagles squad that won the Africa Cup of Nations in Tunisia.
The Ministry of Housing and Urban Development confirmed the development in a statement posted on its website on Wednesday. As part of the long-awaited gesture, former Super Eagles striker Efan Ekoku received an allocation letter for a house in Abuja.
Ekoku, who was unable to attend the brief ceremony, was represented by his niece, Lisa Jenifer Nwagbogun. The letter was formally handed over by Pemi Temitope, Director and Head of the Public Building and Housing Development Department, on behalf of the Minister of Housing.
Temitope said the allocation was in line with the government’s commitment to honouring the patriotic contributions of the 1994 squad, which brought pride and recognition to the country.
“This gesture reinforces our resolve to reward excellence and uphold national promises,” he said.
Speaking at the event, Nwagbogun expressed appreciation on behalf of her uncle. “I am deeply grateful to the Federal Government and the Ministry of Housing for fulfilling this long-standing pledge to my uncle. It is truly heartening to witness such commitment to integrity and follow-through,” she said. “This gesture not only honours Mr. Efan Ekoku’s service but also restores faith in the value of public promises being kept.”
The promise of houses was originally made in 1994, but it remained unfulfilled for nearly three decades until 2022, when former President Muhammadu Buhari approved its implementation.
While some of the football heroes are receiving housing units in various states, others like Ekoku are being allocated homes in Abuja. The move has been widely applauded as a long overdue but welcome recognition of the team’s achievement in Nigerian football history.
