Rabiu Omaku
The presidency under the watchful eyes of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has said the Federal Government would cut the price of the 250 housing units.
The Minister of Housing gave the hint during the foundation laying stone of the housing units at Azuba centre, an outskirt of Lafia, The State capital.
The Minister of Housing and Urban Development, Arc. Ahmed Musa Dangiwa, thanked Governor Sule for promptly providing free land and the most accessible location for the 250-unit housing project.
“This singular action has helped us to reduce as much as 30 percent of the cost of units in this estate for the benefit of potential homeowners. This is a dividend of responsible governance and I applaud Your Excellency for this,” the Minister said.
He disclosed that under phase one of the Renewed Hope Cities and Estate programme, his ministry planned to deliver a total of 50, 000 housing units across Nigeria, including the seven Renewed Hope cities that will have between 501 housing units per site in each of the six geopolitical zones in the country and the FCT.
Arc Dangiwa while flagging off the construction of the 250 units under the Renewed Hope Cities and Estate programme of the Federal Government, said the project comprises of 50 units of one-bedroom semi-detached bungalows, 150 Bedroom semi-detached bungalows and 50 units of 3-bedroom semi-detached bungalows.
He warned contractors handling the project that his ministry would not tolerate substandard work, charging them to ensure that they build according to specifications.
I want to emphasize in very strong terms that we will not tolerate substandard work from any of the developer. We will explore all necessary legal means to ensure that they deliver as per the contract. If you collect government money, you must do the work,” he said.
The minister further called on the developers to adhere to the timeline and finish within three months so that the ministry can begin to give them to Nasarawa indigenes to purchase and move in.
He highlighted on the efforts by the Ministry to make the houses affordable for the intended beneficiaries.
“To ensure affordability, we have created different options to enable everyone who has a source of income and livelihoods to own these homes when they are completed. This includes single digit mortgage loans, and the beneficiaries can pay over 30 years. Rent on skills provided by the Federal Mortgage Bank of Nigeria to which the MD/CEO has confirmed to you. And any outright purchase options or installment payment for those who can afford to pay upfront,” he added.
Arc Dangiwa explained that for the 350 units in Nasarawa State, the project hopes to create jobs for over 6500 people in various trades for professionals such as architects, quantity surveyors, civil, mechanical and electrical engineers to masons, plumbers, tilers, electricians, laborers, iron benders.
“We have seen that an unskilled worker at the project sites earns 35, 000 naira per week at an average of 5 thousand naira per day. This amounts to about 140, 000 naira per month which is more than even the minimum wage. This in addition to other economic activities including foodstuff, supplying blocks and providing building materials,” he said.
The Minister appreciated President Tinubu for the political will to embark on the project and for making available N50bn out of the N100bn earmarked in the 2023 supplementary budget for delivering 50, 000 housing units across the country under phase one of the Renewed Hope Cities and Estate programme.
Governor Abdullahi Sule of Nasarawa State appealed to contractors handling the construction of the 250 housing units under the Federal Government’s Renewed Hope Cities and Estate programme in Shabu, to employ graduates of the Wing Commander Abdullahi Ibrahim Vocational and Technical Institute Lafia
According to the Governor, His administration has since inception committed itself to providing technical and vocational skills in various
