March 16, 2018

The Federal Government said on Friday that it has constituted a committee to work out modalities for the occupation of houses being built under the ongoing National Housing Programme (NHP).

The Zonal Director, NHP, North-Central zone, Mr Valentine Nwaimo said this on Friday, during an inspection of the NHP project located in Osin Aremu, besides Asa Dam, Ilorin, Kwara.

Nwaimo in the company of some top officials of the Ministry of Power, Works and Housing noted that once the modalities were in place, the houses would be given out immediately to eligible people.

According to him, the committee comprised of estate surveyors and valuers, architects, engineers among other stakeholders expected to facilitate professional inputs for quick occupation.

With the ongoing first phase of the programme in 33 states of the federation, Nwaimo noted that there would be a second phase while the Federal Government was targeting to build 5,000 housing units in the long run.

Assessing the impact of the project and it’s contribution to the Gross Domestic Product (GDP), he stated that several lives have been impacted positively since its commencement.

“The project is for the primary purpose of providing accessible, affordable and decent housing for all Nigerians”.

He acknowledged the timely response of the state government and its readiness to donate additional land for the second phase of the NHP.

The Federal Controller and Team Leader of the project, Mr Shonibare Ibikunle said that there were 76 housing units under construction of which four units have been completed while 19 contractors were engaged.

Ibikunle who rated the completion level of the project at 60 per cent, said that it would be delivered before the end of 2018.

One of the contractors, Mr Babatunde Salle said in order to promote local content, he relied on made in Nigeria building materials and indigenous artisans at the project site.

“I have engaged 50 bricklayers, 30 carpenters, 20 iron benders and 20 suppliers, with the job, they are benefiting from the government because of its wealth and job creation.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the Zonal Director had earlier inspected the NHP project situated at Crusher Community, Lokoja, Kogi, comprising of 76 units of various housing types ranging from one, two and three bedrooms semi-detached.

The Team Leader of the Project in Kogi, Mrs Veronica Enesi, hinted that the project had attained 85 per cent completion, aside the road and water infrastructures.

She added that up to 24 units of the houses were ready to be given away once the Federal Government issues the directive to do so.

“Although we have challenges, looking at the terrains, there in a lot of erosion disruption at the site, some contractors have to construct soak away pits twice.

“When the road contract is executed and the drain is set, the erosion will be controlled,” she said.

It was also gathered that the project was almost interrupted by the youths in the community, but the Leader, Olu of Oworo, Hiro Adoga, intervened on behalf of the state government for the project to progress.

Meanwhile, the community leader, George Mattaga, told NAN that the project had economic impacts on the lives of the people in the area.