President Muhammadu Buhari on Monday, March 14, 2022, inaugurated housing units in Kaduna, Osun and Kogi states constructed by his administration through the National Housing Programme.
In Kaduna, which featured 80 units, the President, who was represented by Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Dr Muhammad Abubakar, said the housing estate was part of the change promised Nigerians by his administration.
He said that the government remained committed to reaching every Nigerian through its infrastructure development agenda, irrespective of social status.
Buhari said that infrastructure development was the best way to drive micro, small and medium scale businesses as well as the economy.
“In the process, ordinary Nigerians at the bottom of the pyramid such as artisans, builders, skilled and unskilled workers and food vendors were not left out of this economic value chain.
“These are some of the people our country remains committed to move towards prosperity and away from poverty.
“We are already reaching them by providing opportunities for employment for those who were hitherto unemployed.
“We certainly cannot meet every one of those Nigerians in person, but our economic policies and investment in infrastructure such as this National Housing Programme and others will reach and positively impact many of them,” he said.
Buhari explained that the housing programme was initiated to enable those who for long aspired to own a home, to do so with ease.
Earlier, Minister of Works and Housing, Mr Babatunde Fashola, said that similar houses had been constructed by the federal government in 34 states.
Fashola, represented by Mr Emmanuel Hangeior, said the 80 housing units comprised 48 units of two-bedroom, 28 units of three-bedroom and four units of one-bedroom bungalows.
He said the selection of beneficiaries was done openly, devoid of any discrimination through the national housing portal https://nhp.worksandhousing.gov.ng.
“Allocations will be made based on those who apply and pay on a first come, first serve basis.
“While we welcome those who can afford to pay outright, it is not a condition for eligibility and we have offered flexible payment options like mortgages and rent to own which we encourage applicants to pursue,” he said.
Fashola thanked the Federal Executive Council and National Assembly committees on housing and the contractors for contributing to the success of the national housing programme.
Seventy-six housing units were inaugurated in Lokoja, Kogi.
The housing units are made of 48 two-bedroom units, 24 three-bedroom units and four one-bedroom units.
Buhari, while inaugurating the housing evening, described the project as a “fulfilment of the change that APC promised Nigerians in 2015.
“This housing estate is an example of the fulfilment of that promise of change in 2015 with the support of Kogi government, which provided the land, which has come alive and will provide shelter for ordinary Nigerians.
“Again, it’s a good example of some of the developmental possibilities that inter-governmental collaboration can produce.”
The president, who was represented by the Minister of State of FCT, Mrs Ramatu Tijjani, expressed optimism that the provision of more land, the government could do more for Nigerians.
“The progressive ideals of our government seek to achieve one primary objective, which is to improve the human condition,” he said.
Also speaking, the Minister of Works and Housing, Mr Babatunde Fashola, said that the federal government had delivered similar projects in 34 states with the support of the state governors, who provided the land.
Fashola explained that the 76-unit housing estate was an outcome of a national survey conducted to find out the type of houses Nigerians desired across the states.
“We have offered these housing units to members of the general public in a non-discriminatory way by opening the national housing portal to ensure that interested individuals are not inhibited by any artificial obstacles.
“Allocations will be made on the basis of those who apply and pay on first come first served basis,” he stated.
The minister, however, thanked the contractors, suppliers and all those employed in the building process for their contributions to the nation building.
The first phase of the Federal Housing Project under the National Housing programme was inuagurated in Osogbo, the Osun state capital.
The President, who was represented by the Minister of Interior, Mr Rauf Aregbesola, said the housing project comprises of 72 completed buildings of different categories
Buhari said the housing project was one of the many projects undertaken by his administration since 2016.
He said his administration was aware of housing challenges in the country and had since embarked on the construction of housing estates across the country to tackle housing deficits in Nigeria.
“We are not unaware of the challenge of housing in the country, especially in the urban areas, many of which are overcrowded in unhealthy ways.
“It is our firm resolves to surmount the challenge in every way possible.
“This housing estate, as constructed in all the states of the federation, is one of the ways we are addressing the challenge.
“With the support of the state government of Osun, which provided the land, which was once an unused piece of land has come alive and will now provide shelter for Nigerians” the President said.
Buhari further thanked a former governor of the state, Rauf Aregbesola, for partnering with the Federal Government in providing land for the building of the housing estate in the state.
He advised the house owners and residents of the estate to maintain it in the best possible way.
Earlier, the Minister of Works and Housing, Mr Babatunde Fashola, said the Federal government had completed the project, comprising of 72 housing units.
Fashola said the housing project comprises of 24 units in condominium, four one-bedroom units, 16 two-bedroom units, four three-bedroom units, 28 two-bedroom units and 20 units of three-bedroom bungalows.
The minister, who was represented by Mr Olasunkanmi Dunmoye, Director, Urban and Regional Development, Federal Ministry of Works and Housing, said the housing units were being allocated to members of the public in a non-discriminatory way.
Fashola said this was to ensure that those who are interested were not hindered by any artificial obstacles.
The minister said allocations would be made based on those who apply and pay on a first come, first served basis.
“While we welcome those who can afford to pay outright, it is not a condition for eligibility, and we have offered flexible payment options like mortgages and rent to own which we encourage applicants to pursue.” he said
Also speaking, Mr Chukwunwike Uzo, the Director Overseeing the Office of the Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Works and Housing, explained that the housing programme was being implemented by the Ministry of Works and Housing, under the leadership of Babatunde Fashola.
Uzo, represented by Mr Mohammed Mohammed, stated that the housing project was part of President Muhammadu Buhari’s developmental agenda of addressing housing needs in Nigeria.
He said the Federal Government inaugurated a pragmatic National Housing Programme (NHP) for the construction of acceptable and affordable houses nationwide and that the first phase of the programme commenced in 2016, in 34 states and the FCT.
“It is a programme borne out of the present government’s desire to provide affordable housing for its citizenry.
“The overall economic value chain arising from the housing construction activities is mostly beneficial to the Nigerian youths.
“For the benefit of Nigerian on this initiative, over 1,200 building contractors had been engaged under phases I, II and III of the programmes since the inception in 2016 and over 14,500 and 50,140 direct and indirect jobs had been created.
“During this period, the Ministry is undertaking the construction of over 6,000 housing units in 45 sites, out of which 2,465 units had been completed in 35 states and FCT,” he said
Mr Agunbiade Nathaniel, Osun Commissioner for Lands and Physical Planning, who spoke on behalf of the state government, thanked the Federal government for the housing project in the state.
By Sani Idris, Thompson Yamput and Olajide Idowu
