FG Rolls Out 76 Housing Units In Kogi State The Federal Government of Nigeria, through the National Housing Programme, has delivered on its promise to provide housing for its teeming population, 76 Housing Units of Three, Two and One Bedroom Flats in Lokoja, Kogi State. Engr. Valentine Nwaimo, Zonal Director, National Housing Programme (NHP) North Central zone, Federal Ministry of Power Works and Housing, made this known when the Ministry embarked on a Media Tour of all the Housing units within the Programme in the North central zone to ascertain the level of progress of work. Engr. Nwaimo said 76 units have been fully completed within the estate, its road infrastructure was at a 100% completion, Electricity 93% while Water supply was at 53% Nevertheless, the whole building works would be delivered by March, 2019. This was part of Governments’ efforts at ameliorating housing deficits experienced within the country, he said. On how to access the buildings, Engr. Nwaimo said the Ministry will make public modalities for purchase as soon as it was finalized. While the 2nd Phase of the project would kick off as soon as necessary paper works have gone through Due Process and land allocations have been concluded, he added. Speaking with Pressmen, Arc. Hajara Enesi Team Leader/ Controller of NHP, Kogi State described the opportunities made available to the indigenes in the area of artisanry, food and water vending, supply of building materials etc. Arc Enesi  stated that over 5000  Nigerians were engaged for skilled and unskilled labour while the project lasted. She said the ripple effect has brought development to the whole area which was known for nefarious activities before now and in turn advanced the economy as a whole. Arc. Enesi added that all materials used on the project were locally sourced within the state in line with the Presidential Executive Order 5 meant to improve local content and free up job opportunities for Nigerians. ...

FG Demands Professionalism In The Building Sector The Minister of Power, Works and Housing, Babatunde Raji Fashola has urged experts to exhibit the spirit of sacrifice and professionalism in their services as government continues to provide critical infrastructure to Nigerians. Fashola, in the company of the Minister of State II, Surv. Hassan Zarma, said this when he received Members of the Estate Surveyors and Valuers Registration Board of Nigeria on Tuesday in Abuja. The Minister, who commended the sense of purpose, manifesting in the achievements of the Board within one year of its inauguration, and urged members to be more professional, saying that “if the professionals deliver, Nigeria will deliver”. He emphasized that doing so will eliminate quackery in the system. Furthermore, Fashola explained that the 10% valuer and 25% reposition fees charged by professionals in the field “builds unsustainable economy, citing the 2nd Niger Bridge and the Bodo- Bonny Bridge which runs into billions of naira and requested the Board to review the charges. The Minister also encouraged members to create a baseline data for all empty houses with information for sale or rental value, adding that those empty houses can be livable. He argued that a real economy must reflect indices of exchange rate, inflation and growth rate. Earlier, the Chairman of the Board, Sir Nweke Umezuruike, while inviting the Ministers to the launch of the Green Book ‘The Nigeria Valuation Standards’ presented to him, explained that within the year, the Board has made some remarkable strides in the improved Adhesive Stamps, the publication of the Green Book amongst others. Umezuruike also sought the Minister’s assistance for office accommodation and prompt composition of the Board membership/replacements as are necessary. In attendance were the Permanent Secretary for Works and  Housing, Mohammed Bukar, the Permanent Secretary for Power, Loius Edozie. ...

Minister Decries The Deplorable State Of FHA Roads: Promises Government Intervention The Honourable Minister of State II for Power, Works and Housing, Surv. Suleiman Hassan Zarma, mnis, has lamented the deplorable condition of road and drainage infrastructures at the Federal Housing Authority (FHA) estate, Lugbe, attributing it to critical failures of the planning authorities in time past in upgrading them, giving room to the flagrant abuse of planning regulations by residents. The Minister stated this today in Abuja during an assessment tour of the infrastructural facilities at the estate along side with the Managing Director of Federal Housing Authority, Prof Mohammed Al-amin. According to him, ‘’the typography of the estate was not fully taken into consideration at the planning and design stage, hence the reason for the hydraulic failures.’’ He added that though the facilities that were initially deployed, like the drainage system, maybe small and over stretched such that it cannot contain large volume of water especially during the flooding period. Zarma said that the present administration, as part of its commitment to the citizenry, will however, not relent in upgrading of infrastructural services across the country to enhance and improve the living standards of Nigerians Federal Government owned estates. Earlier, the Managing Director of the Federal Housing Authority, Prof. Mohammed Al-amin thanked the Federal Government and the ministry for massively investing in infrastructures across the country and maintaining the existing structures. While conducting the Minister and journalists round the roads and other facilities in the estate, Al-amin stated that the essence of the visit is to upgrade the FHA settlement into an urban centre due to its proximity to the city centre and the different categories of civil servants living in the housing estate. Speaking at the site of the inspection, the Chairman of the Residents Association, Mr Odelana Adesina thanked the Minister for creating time to visit the estate. He said the residents are glad that the visit by the Minister has given him the opportunity to have a  firsthand information about the deplorable state of the roads and solicited the support of government for the rehabilitation of the existing/major road as well as build alternative roads in and out of the estate for ease of movement by residents. He also urged the government to assist the residents in the provision of other infrastructures such as hospitals, drainages, water supply, metering for electricity and improved security within the estate. The Federal Housing Authority Estate in Lugbe was built some 30 years ago and currently accommodates over 70,000 different categories of federal civil servants working in the city centre. ...