ABUJA (Federal Ministry Of Power, Works And Housing) The Honourable Minister of Power, Works and Housing, Babatunde Raji Fashola, SAN, while on a routine inspection of ministry’s projects across the nation with Directors and other officials yesterday in Gwagwalada, urged Ministry’s staff supervising construction works at the National Housing Programme site in Gwagwalada, FCT to show respect for government laws and institutions, so that citizens will learn by our example.
The Minister said that besides the Development Control restriction order, he was satisfied with the quality of work done so far and the employment opportunities created, adding that this is what government intends to achieve.
In his words, ‘’there is this development control restriction and stop work order inscriptions by the Federal Capital Development Authority that must be complied with, and until the issue is resolved through due process with relevant documents, activities in the site be shut down temporarily’’.
Earlier, Fashola inspected the 218 Units of Ministerial Pilot Housing Scheme developed by Federal Mortgage Bank Nigeria (FMBN) for low income earners located in Gwagwalada. He stated that the mass housing estate of 1, 2, & 3 bedrooms bungalows are designed for low income earners who are Civil Servants and contributors of the National Housing Funds.
‘’The Federal Mortgage site is a different concept entirely, they do not only lend money, but also help you to build for people who want to pay rent’.
In a similar development, the Minister also inspected the 764 mass housing estate at Zuba, another suburb of the Federal Capital Territory undergoing construction by the Federal Housing Authority (FHA). While inspecting the project, the Minister noted that the Authority should ensure that the yearning for accommodation of common Nigerians should be their core priority and major beneficiaries of the project.
While still speaking, he commended FHA for sticking to quality control of building materials used for the construction of the gigantic housing estate, adding that when fully completed it would be of globally competitive standard, and it will meet the global minimum competitive standard of public housing in terms of its fittings and finishing.
Babatunde Fashola further said that the ministry is also projecting a ‘’Rent to Own’’ housing scheme to assist people who cannot afford to buy or get a mortgage. He said that people in that category can rent and start contributing through house rent and eventually become owners.
He expressed satisfaction in the construction of the project especially as over 10, 000 workers including builders, bricklayers, suppliers, food vendors and many more have so far benefited from the project and more would be employed at the fitting stage.
The Managing Director, Federal Housing Authority, Prof. Mohammed Al-min on his part has promised to ensure that the 764 mass housing when completed will meet the yearning of common Nigerians, stressing that the ordinary Nigerians will be the major beneficiaries of the housing scheme.
‘’we have taken several measures to ensure that the end users are actually the common Nigerians. For instance, we are encouraging all sorts of groups to come together and form housing cooperatives’’ he added.
Olatunji John
Principal Information Officer
For: Director, Information
