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The housing units
By Akanji Alowolodu, Gombe
Federal Civil servants in Gombe State have cause to rejoice as the Federal Government has constructed and commissioned a total of 76 units of a housing estate that will be allocated to them.
The housing units were commissioned by President Muhammadu Buhari who disclosed that the land for the houses was obtained by the federal government in 2016 from the government of Gombe state where two and three bed rooms houses were built for sale to civil servants who will pay instalments.
The President who was represented by the Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Isa Ali Pantami commissioned the housing estate located at old mile 3 in the Gombe state.
Muhammadu Buhari also promised that a second phase of such houses will be built in order to provide shelter to more civil servants.
The President added saying, “this land was obtained by the federal government in 2016. What we are here to commission is in first phase, there is an ongoing second phase and this is to provide an affordable housing for our citizens. As we know that housing is absolutely essential.”
According to the President, the federal government is committed to providing shelter to the citizens adding the government redeemed the pledge made 28 years ago by previous administration to build houses for the 1994 super eagles players for winning the African Cup of Nation at their places of choice.
On his part, Gombe State Governor Muhammadu Yahaya, who was represented by his Deputy, Dr. Manassah Jatau commended the Federal Government for the initiative.
The Governor also applauded the laudable housing project by the Federal Government, pointing out that it will help in easing problems of accommodation where almost every Infrastructure has been overstretched due to the influx of people from different states of the North East and other parts of the country witnessing crises.
Inuwa Yahaya explained that the importance of accommodation can not be overemphasized as people without shelter are exposed to all types of hazards, adding that it is because of its importance that State Development Goals (SDG11) targets that by 2030 there should be able to access adequate, safe, and affordable housing and services and upgrade slums, which according to him is just eight years from now.
He noted that the geographical location of the state has made it inevitable not to host visitors, dwellers in the state
Also speaking, the Minister of Works and Housing, Babatunde Raji Fashola said that the FG is building similar houses in many states that provided the lands.
Represented by the Zonal Director, North East, Arch. Usman Bashir, the Minister however revealed that the sum of N293,465,804.04 was voted forroad, drains, and asphalt finishing, N74,931,623.00 for electricity supply and installation of 500kva transformers, and 63,587,475.00 for motorized borehole in the estate.
He further revealed that Government has paid certain percentage on behalf of the beneficiaries, while urging them to use the website to get allocation.
According to him, “Furthermore, as we all know, this administration when it came on board in 2015 made so many commitment to Nigeria. One of them is the provision of housing, because of this that the President directed the ministry of works of housing or the then Ministry of works and power to identify a land in each of the state of the federation and ensure that a befitting accommodation of each of the citizens.”
He revealed that the houses are affordable following the efforts of the Federal Government to subsidize the cost.
The Minister further said that, the project was the outcome of a National Survey conducted by the Ministry of Works and Housing to find out the type of houses Nigerians desired, stating that the survey revealed a prevalent need for bungalows in the North and flats in the Southern part of Nigeria.
He added that the Ministry has offered the housing units to members of the general public in a nondiscriminatory way by opening the National Housing Portal to ensure that those interested are not inhibited by any artificial obstacle and allocations are being made based on those who apply and pay on a first-come, first-served.
The Ministry also explained that, while it welcomes those who can afford to pay outright, it is not a condition for eligibility and they have offered flexible payment options like mortgages and rent to own which they encourage applications to pursue.
Minister of Communications and Digital Economy Prof. Isa Pantami, performed the handing of keys at the official commissioning of the housing project under the National Housing Programme (NHP) phase one in Gombe State on behalf of the President.
Our correspondent reports that the contract was initially awarded in 2016 at a total cost of N727,455,959.59, while the infrastructure was awarded in May 2017 at a total cost of N431,984,902.04.
