FG Inuagurates Board And Management Team Of Federal Mortgage Bank Of Nigeria …Do not do anything that the law does not authorize - Fashola …We will work as a team to deliver on the mandate of FMBN- Madu   The Minister of Works and Housing, Mr. Babatunde Fashola, SAN has called on the newly inaugurated Board members and Management Team of the Federal Mortgage Bank of Nigeria (FMBN) to comply with the law setting up the Bank, saying that as a creation of the law, members are forbidden from making the Bank do anything that the law does not authorize. The Minister gave this charge at the inauguration of the new 7- Board members and Management Team of the Federal Mortgage Bank on Thursday 21st April, 2022 in Abuja, saying that any member of the Board that deviates   from the primary functions and powers of the Board can become individually and corporately liable for noncompliance with the Law. Fashola said, “I have taken time to address the Law setting up the institution you have been appointed to administer, so as to leave you in no doubt whatsoever, as to what your mandate and purpose is.” He said that the caution on the need for  compliance to the mandate of the Bank became important because the tenure of the previous Boards and Managements did things not permitted by the Law. “This has become the important starting point for my inauguration remarks because in the tenure of previous Boards and Managements before this administration, the Bank did things the Law did not contemplate and this has resulted in hobbling liabilities which I regret to inform you that you must now confront and resolve,” he said. Speaking further, he called on the new Board and Management to bring to a lawful end all other ventures into which the Bank has dabbled into which are not supported by Law saying, “I expect this to happen through due process, supported by Legal consultations, Board debates and decisions and Ministerial or Presidential approvals as may be necessary.” He said that it was a huge privilege for them to be chosen as Board Members and Management Team of the specialized Bank that is set up to provide Mortgage Banking services to Nigerians saying that they should use the opportunity to serve their father’s land.  “It is not an opportunity for self-help but an opportunity to help others, especially to own a home, by rendering selfless service,” he charged the Board. Mr. Fashola listed the functions of the Bank as encapsulated by the Law to include amongst others: to provide long-time credit facilities to mortgage institutions in Nigeria at such rates and such terms as may be determined by the Board in accordance with the policy of Federal Government. Also, the Bank is to encourage and promote the development of mortgage institutions at rural, local, state and Federal Levels. Also speaking on the powers of the Mortgage Bank, he said it can accept deposits and savings from mortgage institutions and other institutional depositors and establish a sinking fund for the redemption of securities by the Mortgage Bank and provide for contributions by it to the sinking fund amongst others. The Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Mr. Bashir Alkali thanked Mr. President for graciously approving the re-constitution of the new Board and Management of the Bank following the expiration of the tenure of the former Board. The Permanent Secretary who was represented by the Director Overseeing the Office of the Permanent Secretary, Engineer Chukwunwike Uzo said that the Federal Mortgage Bank of Nigeria is a critical Agency of Government under the supervision of the Federal Ministry of Works and Housing with the mandate to provide long term credit facilities to mortgage institutions in Nigeria and to encourage and promote the development of mortgage institutions at the rural, local, State and Federal levels. In his remarks, the Chairman of the Board, Mr. Gbeleyi Ariyo lauded Federal Government for reconstituting the Board and Management of the  Mortgage Bank saying the impact the Bank plays in national and economic development was very crucial. He expressed optimism of meeting up with the huge expectation from Government considering the capacity of members of proven track records of integrity and performance pointing out that members are drawn from Banking sector, diverse ethnicity and gender, he promised not to fail in their responsibilities. On behalf of other members of the Mortgage Bank Board and the Management Team, the Managing Director/ Chief Executive of the Bank, Mr. Hamman Madu thanked President Muhammadu Buhari, GCFR for appointing them into the exalted position of Nigeria’s apex Mortgage Institution.“I thank Mr. President, the Honourable Minister, the Minister of State and the Permanent Secretary for finding us worthy to be appointed on the Board and the Management Team. We are humble and excited to be chosen and to undertake the responsibility,” he said. According to Madu, housing is one of the basic human needs and to access housing finance is a critical ingredient in achieving the housing needs of all Nigerians. He promised on behalf of the Executive Management Team and Board to work harmoniously to reposition the Bank to deliver on its core mandate. ...

National Housing Programme: We Invest in Housing Infrastructure to Improve Quality of Life - Buhari President Muhammadu Buhari has stated that his administration embarked on massive housing infrastructure across the country in order to improve the quality of life of the citizens. Buhari said this in Dutse, Jigawa State when he commissioned 76 housing units in the state under the National Housing Programne, Thursday 14 April, 2022. The President was represented at the occasion by the Minister of Water Resources, Engr. Suleman Hussain Adamu. He said his administration could not meet every Nigerian in person but the economic policies and investment in infrastructure of his government will positively impact on the generality of people. “Our desire and commitment towards improving the human condition and our message of change, have another facet beyond job creation. It is in response to those who have long aspired to own homes, and that dream has come true with this project, ” he said. The Minister of Works and Housing, Mr.Babatunde Raji Fashola,SAN who was represented at the event by Mr. Mu'azu Jaji Sambo  the Minister of State for Works and Housing, said there were many things to be said about the project,  from its design to economic and social impact on the community. Fashola said 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, saying that the survey revealed the need for space such that one -bedroom units have 60-70sq metres, two-bedroom units of 76-103sq metres and three-bedroom units 110-137sq mtres. “These are extremely generous spaces compared to what is commonly available in the market,” he said. In his welcome address, the Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Works and Housing, Mr. Bashir Nura Alkali, said that the national housing project was part of developmental agenda of the Buhari administration aimed at bridging the housing deficit gap in the country. Mr. Alkali, who was represented at the event by Builder Emmanuel Hengieor, the Zonal Director (Housing) North West in the ministry said the aim was to provide acceptable and affordable houses to Nigerians nationwide. He disclosed that over 1,200 building contractors have been engaged under phases I, II and III of the programme since its inspection in 2016 and more than 14,500 and 50,140 direct and indirect jobs were created nationwide. He said, “During this period, the ministry is undertaking the construction of over 6,000 housing units in 45 sites, out of which 2,465 units have been completed in 34 states and the Federal Capital Territory. The Governor of Jigawa State, Mr.  Muhammad Badaru who was represented by his deputy, Mallam Umar Namadi, expressed joy that the housing project was a product of the developmental change agenda of the Buhari administration. Accordingly, the Governor disclosed that Jigawa State Government in its efforts to provide affordable houses for its citizens allocated 125 hectares of land for the construction of 40 units of houses for the citizens. The commissioned 76 housing units in Jigawa State consists of 48 units of 2-bedroom bungalow, 24 units of 3-bedroom bungalow and 4 units of 1 bedroom bungalow. In his goodwill message, the Emir of Dutse, His Royal Highness, Dr. Muhammadu Nuhu Sanusi, said he was satisfied with the project and commended the efforts put in place by the Federal Government in reducing housing deficit in Nigeria. The Emir who was represented by the Wanban Dutse, Alhaji Mustapha Aminu, urged the Federal Government to do more in the housing sector by providing affordable houses particularly to the less privileged people. While speaking, the Head of the Burtilan community where the project was situated, Mallam Ahmed Garba, said he was overwhelmed with joy over the project, saying that the project has helped in improving the economic activities in his community. " The project has really helped my community because it provided opportunities for my people to work and get some money to take good care of their families and it has also brought development to the domain," he said. An artisan (head of carpentry), Mallam Abdulkareem Abdullahi, applauded the Federal Government for the project, stating that the housing projects took him to five states across the nation to handle similar carpentry job in the same federal government housing projects and he was able to tutor over forty workers in the carpentry work under him and they can now stand on their own. Mallam Abdullah further revealed that, through the projects, he was able to acquire many properties and trained his seven children up to secondary school, calling on the government to continue with such efforts so that other people like him could get the same opportunity. ...

Out Pour Of Encomiums Continues As President Muhammadu Buhari Commissions National Housing Project In Kano   …... The project has opened up activities in my area - Gama District Head .......  I thank you PMB for this project, I can now pay my children school fees -- Mohammed Lawal The people of Kano State Thursday, March 7, 2022 joined in the outpouring of commendation across the country, as President Muhammadu Buhari commissioned affordable National Housing Programme in the State. The Federal Government under the Federal Ministry of Works and Housing has successfully completed Phase 1 of the National Housing Programme in 34 States including the Federal Capital Territory (FCT). From Sokoto to Asaba, the story has been the same as Nigerians thanked President Buhari for the provision and commissioning of the pilot scheme of affordable, accessible and acceptable houses as contained in the National Housing Policy. So far, completed housing units under Phase 1 of the National Housing Programme have been commissioned in Kaduna, Kogi, Delta, Imo, Osun, Nasarawa, Sokoto, Niger and now Kano State. However more of such housing projects are lined up for commissioning by the President in many other states as soon as arrangements are tidied up. In Kano, the District Head of Gama Kwari Jaba, where the houses are located Mallam Musa Usman, while thanking President Buhari, said the project has really opened up his community for commercial activities, adding that his subjects derived maximum benefits by way of getting paid job in the course of the project. The ward Head prayed for the President and asked the Government to do more in order to improve the living condition of the people and curb the rate of unemployment in the country. Speaking in the same vein a labourer who was engaged during the construction, Mohammad Lawal said that with the little money he made, he was able to settle the school fees of his children and use part of it to provide food for his family. “I thank President Muhammadu Buhari and the Minister of Works and Housing, Mr. Babatunde Fashola, SAN, for this project. God bless our President. I pray and wish him a successful end of tenure," he said. Others who spoke were: food vendors, iron benders, carpenters and other labourers that worked in the site unanimously prayed for and commended President Muhammadu Buhari for the laudable housing project. They all in separate interviews, expressed their genuine happiness in the way the project turned around their daily lives for the better, as according to them, "A means of earning their daily bread was created through the project." A total of 76-units of houses comprising, 4-units of one bedroom, 48-units of two bedroom and 24 units of three-bedroom bungalows were commissioned in Kano State. At the commissioning in Kano, the President represented by the Minister of Defence, Major General Bashir Salihi Magashi, Rtd said: "This housing estate being commissioned today is an example of the fulfillment of the promise of change we made to Nigerians." President Buhari said the housing estates that were constructed in the 34 states of the federation were a clear manifestation of the progressive ideals of the present administration to improve the human condition of Nigerians. President Buhari said, “The micro, small and medium size businesses that drive the economy have unleashed a value chain of economic activities that improved the conditions of the ordinary Nigerians." Accordingly, he said, those business activities added value to human condition, saying, “In the process, Nigerians at the bottom of the pyramid such as artisans, builders, skilled and unskilled workers and food vendors were not left out of this economic value chain." Mr.President  also pointed out that the desire and commitment of his administration towards improving the human condition was gaining more impetus as jobs were being created for the teeming populace via the housing estates, adding that people who had aspired for a long time to own a home are now seeing their dreams come true with this housing projects. On his part, the Honourable Minister of Works and Housing, Babatunde Raji Fashola, SAN said that as the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari draws to an end, there is great leap in completion of projects all over the federation. The Minister was represented in Kano by the Director of Public Building and Housing Development Federal Ministry of Works and Housing, Arc. Solomon Labafilo. Fashola said, "As we head towards the end of President Muhammadu Buhari's tenure of office, I am happy  to also say that we enter a season of completion when many projects such as this begin to bear fruits." Fashola further stated that the houses commissioned were opened to the general public in non-discriminating way by opening of the National Housing Portal to ensure transparency of bidding processes in acquiring the houses. He added that, "We welcome those who can afford to pay outright. It is not a condition of eligibility and have offered flexible payment options like mortgage and rent to own which we encourage applicants to pursue." ...