Gov. Abdullahi Ganduje of Kano State says its Teacher Reserved Area (TRA) Housing Project Committee has acquired over N3 billion Federal Government funding for affordable houses.
This is contained in a statement by the Chief Press Secretary to the deputy governor, Mr Hassan Fagge, on Sunday, December 11, 2022, in Kano, the state capital.
The governor made the statement at the presentation of allocation letters for 500 affordable housing funds housing units and house refurbishing loan to 426 beneficiary teachers and other public servants held at the Government House in Kano.
Represented by his deputy and APC governorship candidate, Alhaji Nasiru Gawuna, Ganduje said the houses would be constructed in phases across the various local government areas of the state.
“This laudable programme is a partnership between Kano state and the Federal Mortgage Bank (FMBN) of Nigeria as well as the Family Homes Fund, initiated with the aim of providing affordable housing to residents and supporting civil servants.
“It is for them to obtain affordable loans to renovate their homes so as to make them more conducive for habitation,” he explained.
According to him, a house renovation loan of over N700 million has already been secured from the FMBN to enable civil servants and other beneficiaries who already own homes to refurbish their homes.
“Beneficiaries will receive N1 million as loan and to be repaid through monthly deduction over a period of time to allow for ease of payment.
He reiterated that his administration had committed significant amount of funding, efforts and other investments to ensure full realisation of these housing programmes for the benefit of its people.
“This is a testament to our commitment to the welfare of public servants and our determination toward the socio-economic development of the state,” he said.
The governor, who congratulated the beneficiaries of the programmes, reminded them that the renovation loan and housing units were provided on a credit basis by the Federal Government to the state.
He, therefore, urged them to fulfill their pledge and make timely repayment for other residents to also benefit.
The Minister of State for Works and Housing, Alhaji Umar El-Yakub, said the result of getting access to the home renovation loan and other facilities offered by the FMBN to all civil servants in Kano who were contributors to the National Housing Fund Scheme made it possible.
“Their contributions made the presentation of cheque worth over N367 million to 426 Kano state civil servants.”
He added that the ministry had built 100 housing units at Jaba, under the National Housing Programme.
Managing Director of the FMBN, Mr.Hamman Madu, applauded the commitment and cooperation of the Kano State Government which resulted in the resumption of participation of Kano civil servants in the National Housing Scheme.
He explained that the bank was also constructing 265 housing units in some local government areas of the state which would be sold to members of the Nigeria Union of Teachers.
Earlier, the Chairman of the TRA Housing Project Committee, Alh. Rabi’u Bichi, highlighted the successes achieved by the committee.
He said the successes started with the signing of Memorandum of Understanding to develop 5,000 affordable housing units across 44 local government areas in phases.
“Development of the housing units have commenced with 500 housing units being constructed at both Ungogo and Fagge local government areas.”
By Muhammad Nur Tijani
