The Real Estate Developers Association of Nigeria (REDAN) has pledged to partner with the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) to systematically construct affordable housing in the territory.
President and Chairman of the association, Dr Aliyu Wamakko, made this known when he presented palliative items on behalf of association to the FCTA on Monday, April 20, 2020 in Abuja.
“The sit-at-home Presidential directive made us realise that some Nigerians are homeless while others live in congested homes.
“We hereby wish to partner with the FCT Administration to systematically increase the stock of housing in the FCT,” Wamakko said.
He explained that the association donated assorted food items to support the FCT Administration’s palliative scheme aimed at cushioning the effect of sit-at-home order.
He explained that the donation was part of the association’s corporate social responsibility, especially in the present critical period of the global pandemic.
“As part of our corporate social responsibility, we support the FCTA with some food items for distribution to households to enable them comply with the sit-at-home directives.
Wamakko prayed for the nation to overcome the pandemic.
He appreciated the efforts being made by President Muhammadu Buhari, members of the Presidential Task Force, health personnel and staff of the FCTA to contain the spread of COVID-19.
Receiving the items on behalf of the administration, Dr Ramatu Aliyu, FCT Minister of State, who was represented by the Director-General, FCT Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), Dr Abbass Idriss, noted that the donations received so far would go a long way in cushioning the effect of sit-at-home order.
“On behalf of the administration and the entire vulnerable people in the FCT, we are happy to receive these palliative items from REDAN. We appreciate this kind gesture at this critical tine.
“We are faced with a war of the Coronavirus pandemic and hunger is another war of itself. We have received assistance from organisations like REDAN due to the lockdown in the nation’s capital.
“In the FCT, we have already commenced the distribution of the palliative and we started with Abaji area council and we are loading to go to Kuje and Kwali area councils tomorrow by the grace of God.
“We will like to go round the area councils on or before fasting commences. The government is not unmindful of the hardship people are going through and we believe that these palliatives will assist a great deal,” he said.
The minister, who called on others to emulate the gesture, assured the association that the items would be distributed to the vulnerable in rural communities.
The palliative items donated by the association included 200 bags of 5kg rice, 200 cartons of Indomie noodles, 50 bags of semovita and 69 bottles of groundnut oil for distribution to households to enable them cope with the sit-at-home directive.
By Salisu Sani-Idris
