The Enugu State Housing Development Corporation (ESHDC) has been thrust into the spotlight following allegations of large-scale corruption, abuse of office, and mismanagement tied to the controversial Blossom Garden Estate project.
Once promoted as a flagship housing initiative designed to expand residential opportunities in the state, Blossom Garden Estate has instead become the center of what stakeholders describe as a “monumental betrayal of public trust.”
According to Barrister Kingsley Ilodibe, a legal practitioner and concerned stakeholder, the estate has been rendered inaccessible and unviable, with allottees unable to take possession of plots they legally purchased.
At the heart of the scandal is a private company, Hephzibah & Beulah (H&B), allegedly linked to the Managing Director of the ESHDC. The company is accused of illegally occupying more than 800 hectares of land within the estate, selling plots under its own name, and allegedly sharing proceeds with top officials of the housing agency.
Critics say this constitutes a glaring conflict of interest and a violation of public trust.
Despite designs showing a 30-meter-wide road meant to link districts within the estate, the land has reportedly been fenced off, leaving buyers stranded.
“This is no longer a case of mismanagement; it is a clear act of deception and administrative sabotage,” Ilodibe said, warning that failure by Governor Peter Ndubuisi Mbah to intervene immediately could worsen the crisis.
Observers further accuse the ESHDC of failing to deliver on its promises across other projects.
Despite acquiring large tracts of land and launching multiple housing schemes over the past two years, the agency has allegedly failed to provide basic infrastructure such as drainage systems and paved roads.
Many of the layouts remain undeveloped, raising questions about transparency in land administration.
Even more troubling, insiders claim that no director within the agency can account for key land-related decisions made over the last year, fueling suspicions that land allocations in Enugu may have been hijacked by private interests.
Ilodibe cautioned that if urgent steps are not taken within 48 hours, concerned citizens may mobilize a mass social media campaign to expose further alleged irregularities. “Ndi Enugu deserve transparency, not treachery,” he declared.
The scandal has sparked calls for Governor Mbah to order a full investigation into the operations of the ESHDC, restore public confidence, and ensure accountability in the state’s housing sector.