Maldivian citizens dreamed big when casting their votes to elect Dr. Mohamed Muizzu as their next president during last year's presidential elections. During the election campaign, he promised to do everything beneficial for the people's lives and progress. Especially regarding housing. He painted a picture for the citizens, giving full assurance that he would provide shelter for all.

However, some opposition political leaders at the time warned the public that if Muizzu came to power, he would withhold the plots of land and flats allocated during former President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih's government.

Muizzu brushed off these claims and assured the people that nothing would be taken away from them.

Muizzu promised to hand over flats and plots of land to their rightful recipients, without any changes as publicized in the government gazette, during the presidential elections campaign, having said that his government would allocate flats according to the list determined by the government. Even after coming to power, the president said that he will not take away housing given to a citizen.

Despite this, to date, flat and land recipients have been pleading for the release of their rightful plots of land and flats since the government took the reins.

Every Friday night, throngs of citizens both men and women, have been taking to the streets, demanding for the handover of their flats and plots of land, to claim their rights.

The series of protests initially took place at the surf point region in the capital city. As the intensity of these protests began to build, President Muizzu met with senior officials of Fahi Union, who were leading the protests, and senior officials of associations at the President's Office on September 2.

During the meeting, he once again gave assurance that plots and flats would be given.

With this, the protests were halted. Just a few days later, citizens started a series of protests in the Rasfannu region, once again demanding the handover of their plots and flats. The protesters alleged that Muizzu met with senior officials of Fahi Union to silence them and that the government achieved this goal, as the union and other leading associations are now urging not to continue the current protests.

Unfortunately, none of the demands made by protesters were met. Flats were not handed over. Updates have not been shared about the progress of work in the areas where land has been allocated either.

It remains unclear whether these projects are progressing or not. According to Minister of Housing, Land and Urban Development Dr. Ali Haidar Ahmed, who earlier said the flats would be issued in October, asserted that the flat list would be publicized in October.

The minister added that as the work on 32 towers progresses, the first six towers will be completed within October.

While citizens are eagerly waiting to see if the government will follow through, the information about flats that was previously available on the Gedhoruverin Portal has now been removed.

The "eligible" tag is also not visible on the portal in addition to the details of points received as well as the agreement for 4,000 flats.

Upon coming across this issue on the portal, protesters filed complaints with the housing ministry. However, the ministry is yet to respond.

While many citizens are in a state of snowballing distress regarding the matter, there has been no response from the housing ministry when inquired whether the Gedhoruverin Portal is down, whether information is being updated, or why nothing is visible on the portal.

This has led to serious allegations surfacing against the government, including that this is an attempt by the government to seize land and flats.

With the ruling People’s National Congress (PNC)’s constituency elections scheduled for October, some have been alleging that the flat list and lost information will reappear on the portal after the elections conclude.

Further, there have been allegations that the incumbent administration offers “massive gifts” to parliamentarians on silver platters, with many suggesting that it is not far-fetched that some of the flats to be handed over this time could be gifted to certain individuals.