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…Operator hails move
By Maduka Nweke
A built environment expert, Chief Simon Nweke, has commended the Federal Minister of Housing and Urban Development, Ahmed Musa Dangiwa, for the rapid completion of the 1,550-unit housing project in Abuja meant for military personnel, describing it as a positive step toward bridging Nigeria’s housing deficit and improving operational efficiency in the security sector.
Nweke noted that if similar efficiency is replicated across other sectors of the economy, the nation’s housing shortage would be significantly reduced. He argued that timely project execution would also improve governance transparency and accountability. He said, “If projects like this are done every year, it will be easy to checkmate activities of federal ministries and their staffers. It will also make the staffers become transparent because there will hardly be hidden sharp practices among them. It is wrong that government officials will wait until a project becomes disturbing before they put their eyes there. Some people say that officials wait until it gets disturbing so that the budget will be much.”
He further urged government agencies to prioritize preventive monitoring rather than reactive interventions, stressing that consistent project oversight would reduce waste and improve public confidence in governance.
Recently, Minister Dangiwa praised President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for his commitment to delivering modern accommodation for Nigerian Army personnel, saying the initiative would strengthen operational effectiveness and morale within the armed forces. He made the remarks during an inspection of the 1,550-unit Nigerian Army Housing Project in Abuja, explaining that the project forms part of the administration’s broader Renewed Hope Agenda, which prioritizes infrastructure development, security enhancement, and improved welfare for public sector workers.
The minister explained that the housing project is a special presidential intervention consisting of one-bedroom, two-bedroom, and three-bedroom bungalow units. The estate was constructed by Brains and Hammers Estate Development Company under the Renewed Hope Housing Programme, which was launched to improve the welfare and living standards of military personnel and their families.
According to Dangiwa, “The initiative is aimed at reviving the traditional barracks system where members of the Armed Forces are properly housed within secure and well-planned residential communities to enable them to discharge their duties effectively.” He emphasized that quality housing remains critical to national security and productivity in the defence sector.
The minister disclosed that President Tinubu had directed that the project be completed within two to three months, with commissioning expected by the end of March or early April. He added that the estate is designed as a fully integrated residential community with essential infrastructure and social amenities.
The facilities include fully tarred internal roads, religious centres, shopping outlets, sports facilities, an officers’ mess, clinic, schools, and a fire service station to ensure sustainable and comfortable living conditions for residents. He also highlighted the ongoing construction of a 6.5-kilometre dual carriage access road linking the estate directly to the Kubwa Highway, saying the road would improve transportation and stimulate economic activities around the corridor.
“The access road has opened up the entire location. With the construction of this road, developers are already springing up with their own construction in their various locations, and the project has progressed tremendously both internally and externally, including landscaping, roads, water, and electricity installations,” the minister stated.
Dangiwa revealed that the project is being jointly implemented by the Federal Ministry of Housing and Urban Development and the Federal Housing Authority, alongside other supervising agencies. He expressed satisfaction with the pace of work and assured Nigerians of quality delivery.
A representative of Brains and Hammers developers handling the project expressed confidence in meeting the delivery timeline. “By the grace of God, we should be delivering this project by the end of March or the first week of April,” he said, adding that the minister’s frequent supervision had strengthened the contractor’s commitment to quality execution.
He further appreciated the minister’s leadership, saying the constant engagement had boosted morale and ensured strict adherence to project specifications and timelines.
The minister was accompanied during the inspection by the Minister of State for Housing and Urban Development, the Permanent Secretary of the ministry, and several directors, reflecting the government’s strong institutional backing for the project. The development is widely seen as a major step toward improving military welfare and strengthening infrastructure delivery in the housing sector.
