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By Maduka Nweke
Nigerians across the country have chided the Federal Government for flouting mere 6,000 units of housing which it even delivered behind schedule. Some of those that spoke to Daily Sun said that the housing units were not spread to reach most states in the federation. They are not happy the housing programs of government are concentrated in certain section of the country.
According to Mr. Yusuf Olaleye, a furniture maker, if Federal Government had allowed Alhaji Jakande, to continue the estates he was doing everywhere, we would not have had the shortage or housing deficit that is now prevalent.
Ngozi Okafor from Anambra State, said that if half of that was built in Anambra was well spread, it would have been applauded. “Government is cheating some people while pampering some others. Some states don’t know where to site government projects because of space yet, the state,” she said.
Minister of Transportation, Malam Mu’azu Sambo applauded the Nigerian Government for completing about 6,000 housing units across the country.
But those who understand the enormity of housing deficit in the country argued that 6000 units were too small to be celebrated for the whole country “ she said.
According to him, the houses are funded by the Federal Housing Authority (FHA) and the Federal Mortgage Bank of Nigeria (FMBN). Sambo speaking to the press about the housing, he said it was open to Nigerians both at home and in the diaspora to buy the houses.
He said that the houses are sold on the Federal Ministry of Works and Housing portal adding, “These houses are reasonably affordable to most Nigerians and if they are not able to pay immediately, we encourage them to approach FMBN and open an account with the Bank.
“Interested Nigerians could open an account with FMBN or any of the primary mortgage institutions, especially if they contribute to the National Housing Fund. The houses are sold on the portal because we want to be transparent. Nigerians are advised to go online, look at the houses they like, and in any states and apply.’’
Sambo said that 700 units out of the 6,000 units would be inaugurated in Zuba in May, adding that one of the priorities of President Muhammadu Buhari- lead administration is to provide social houses. “The government priority is social inclusion, which targets the reduction of poverty and enhancing the livelihood of poor people by building houses that will give them comfort, shelter, and sustainability.
For instance, we don’t want to build a house that is expensive and difficult to maintain. Our intention is to meet the requirement of the Constitution, which is right to shelter for every Nigerian,’’ he said.
In addition, the minister said the Government was working to deliver 900 housing units under its National Housing Programme (NHP) in 35 states across the country. “We have completed the phase one of NHP and in some states, phase two has been completed and in some states, we are in phase three. Almost all the states are in phase three. In each state, they are not less than 100 houses, and we are looking at 300 houses in three phases. Some of them are being commissioned but we are going to commission that of Taraba this month,’’he said.
