The Honourable Minister of Works and Housing, Babatunde Raji Fashola, SAN has inaugurated the Gombe State Investment Housing Estate financed by the Federal Mortgage Bank of Nigeria.
The project which was conceived as a result of the partnership between Federal Mortgage Bank of Nigeria and Gombe State Investment and Property Development Limited was executed under the Federal Mortgage Bank of Nigeria Estate Development Loan (EDL) Window.
Speaking during the inauguration ceremony in Gombe, Fashola reiterated the commitment of President Muhammadu Buhari led administration to deliver affordable houses to Nigerians and complete all inherited projects from previous administrations across the country.
He commended the vision of Gombe State Investment Limited for conceiving the plan for the estate and going into partnership with the Federal Mortgage Bank of Nigeria which resulted to the final delivery of the estate after many years of its inception.
The Minister also used the occasion to flag off the North East National Cooperative Housing Development Scheme which he said was basically to encourage people come into groups to acquire land and build for themselves the type of houses they desire.
Accordingly, he explained that the idea of the housing cooperatives was for buyers to determine houses that meet their expectations; remove the middle men contractors and make houses more affordable to low and middle income earners.
On the economy of housing, Fashola stated that many jobs are being created and wealth redistributed through housing contracts. The minister pointed out that food vendors, masons, artisans, labourers, carpenters, tailors, welders are engaged and earn income working at housing project sites.
While urging people to come together to establish housing cooperatives, Mr.Fashola congratulated the beneficiaries of the houses and prayed God to give them peace as they live in the estate.
In his address, Gombe State Governor, Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya commended the commitment of the government of President Muhamnadu Buhari in providing shelter to Nigerians.
He explained that providing shelter is one of the responsibilities of any government that has concern for its citizens.
Speaking earlier, the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Federal Mortgage Bank of Nigeria, Arch.Ahmed Dangiwa, commended the efforts of the Honourable of Works and Housing, Babatunde Raji Fashola, SAN for encouraging the Federal Mortgage Bank of Nigeria to collaborate with state governments in providing houses through cooperative societies.
He explained that it was through the partnership between the Federal Mortgage Bank of Nigeria and Gombe State Investment Limited that the estate was delivered.
A total number of 150 houses completed out of the 311 conceived for the housing estate was inaugurated. This comprises 82 units detached two bedroom bungalows and 68 units of 3 bedroom detached bungalows.
A beneficiaries of the estate Ayuba Maiyama who spoke on behalf of his colleagues, appreciated the effort of Gombe State Investment Limited for providing them the opportunity to own their houses and also appealed to the Minister and the Federal Mortgage Bank of Nigeria to complete the remaining 161 houses to make up the 311 earlier conceived for the housing estate.
The selling price is N6 3 million for the 2 bedroom and N7.5 million for the 3 bedroom apartments.
Stephen Kilebi
Deputy Director (Press)
