ABUJA – (Federal Ministry of Power, Works & Housing Report) – The Minister of State II for Power, Works and Housing, Suleiman Hassan Zarma (Surv) has acknowledged that the Federal Government through its on-going National Housing Programme is committed to cutting down on the national housing deficit, indicating that this will fast-track delivery of affordable houses to Nigerians.
He mentioned this at the commissioning of 3 blocks of 12 units, 2 bedroom flats constructed by the Staff Multi-purpose Cooperative Society at Sabon Lugbe in Abuja lately. Suleiman Zarma maintained that the government is concerned about providing affordable houses to its teeming population, but due to diminishing revenue, it cannot provide houses to all Nigerians.
He commended the laudable initiative of the Cooperative Society for providing the staff housing estate, thereby meeting the welfare needs of its members. He added that the Cooperative Society is working in line with one of the Ministry’s core mandates of providing adequate, affordable and sustainable housing.
While urging private developers, individuals and other cooperative societies to emulate the FMPW&H Staff Multi-purpose Cooperative Society by providing lands, access to mortgage facilities and other avenues towards meeting the housing needs of Nigerians, the Minister advised the Cooperative Society after commissioning and inspecting the Housing Estate to plant economic trees within the estate. They were reminded to ensure that all structures are built on land properly acquired in line with laid down rules, as the law against illegal acquisition of land and landed properties in the FCT is still being enforced.
Speaking earlier, the Chairman of the Staff Multi-purpose Cooperative Society, Ejiofor Frank Obidiri noted that this project was the second to be developed by the Society and has an improvement on the previous one located in Kubwa. He intensified that the project which cost N86.5Million was designed and built with standard building materials, while engaging trained skilled artisans and workmen. He further called on the Minister to assist in the construction of the feeder roads leading to the estate.
In his remarks, one of the beneficiaries of the housing project, Ajayi Folarin Abimbola appreciated the executive members for their commendable success in building houses for contributors. A total of twelve contributors were beneficiaries.
