Goodluck Ikiebe in Abuja.
The Federal Capital Territory Administration(FCTA) has commenced the provision of 4,104 affordable houses for staff of the administration as part of activities to commemorate Nigeria’s 61st Independence Anniversary.
FCT Minister of State, Dr. Ramatu Tijjani Aliyu, performed the official site handover/ground breaking ceremony of Muhammadu Buhari Staff Affordable Housing Estate in Karshi, to signpost the commencement of the project.
The minister noted that the project was a bold step by the administration towards addressing the deficit in the housing sector, especially among civil servants.
Aliyu assured staff that modalities had been put in place to guarantee accessibility and affordability to deserving beneficiaries, including funding and repayment arrangements with primary mortgage institutions.
She stressed that layouts had been identified for affordable housing provision in all the six area councils of the FCT, adding that development plans had been prepared for the layouts and prototype designs have been produced for various housing types.
According to her: “That Nigeria is witnessing a crisis in quality housing provision is not in doubt.
Increasing numbers from amongst the youth population are abandoning rural farmlands in the search for better living conditions in the urban areas.
“Sadly, these multitudes, unable to afford the relatively higher costs of living, are left with no choice other than to find accommodation in shanties and other unwholesome settings.
“It is in recognition of this housing deficit in the nation’s capital, reputed to be the number one urban centre in Nigeria with the most housing-challenged humans (especially among civil servants), that we have completed a review of previous attempts at providing affordable housing for staff of the FCTA/FCDA.”
Dr Aliyu identified high cost of land registration,irregularity of land title, policy implementation somersaults, licencing issues, inadequate funding and legislation as some of the major issues that continued to confront the housing sector in Nigeria.
She affirmed that the administration was working,assiduously, to address some of these challenges so that private sector entities could feel encouraged to invest more in affordable housing provision.
In his remarks, FCTA Permanent Secretary, Mr. Olusade Adesola, revealed that the present administration had, its inception, pursued the actualization of the project.
He stressed that the provision of affordable housing was a conscious effort by the FCT Administration in its effort solving the housing needs of its low and medium cadre in the civil service.
Adesola expressed optimism that the project would create jobs for the teeming youths of Federal Capital Territory and create opportunities for the artisans, thereby preventing youth restiveness.
Speaking on the project concept, the Director, Housing, Satellite Towns Development Department, Arch. Usman Isyaku Bala, called for deliberate housing policies and concession in the provision of land, primary and secondary infrastructure and ease of titles to solve housing needs in the country.
The Managing Director, Auto-North Limited, Mallam Baba Gombe Muhammad, who spoke on behalf of other contractors,pledged the commitment of the private entities to deliver quality job and on target.
