Welcome Address By The Ag. Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry Of Works And Housing, Engr. C.O Uzo Represented By Director Highways (South-East), Arc. Iquo Lucy Uzodinma At The Commissioning Of The National Housing Programme In Imo State On Thursday, 31st March, 2022.
Protocols
1. It is my great pleasure to welcome you all to this significant event in the affairs of our National life. I welcome all the eminent and distinguished invited guests to the occasion of the commissioning of the first phase of the National Housing Programme Initiative.
2. On behalf of the Honourable Minister Babatunde Raji Fashola SAN, Directors and Head of Units, Federal Ministry of Works & Housing, I welcome all distinguished invited Guests, the Royal Fathers and the entire people of Imo State to this event.
3. As part of President Muhammadu Buhari’s developmental agenda of addressing Housing needs in Nigeria, the Federal Government inaugurated a pragmatic National Housing Programme (NHP) for the construction of acceptable and affordable houses nationwide. The first phase of the programme commenced in the 2016, in 34 States and FCT.
4. The National Housing Programme is being implemented by the Ministry of Works and Housing, under the leadership of the Honourable Minister, Mr. Babatunde Raji Fashola, SAN. It is a Programme borne out of the present Government's desire to provide affordable housing for its citizenry.
5. Further to the above, the Ministry is promoting local content in line with the Executive Orders 3 and 5. The use of available local building materials in the National Housing Programme (NHP) has stimulated the economy through the production and use of the materials. The overall economic value chain arising from the housing construction activities is mostly beneficial to the Nigerian youths.
6. The Ministry has successfully constructed housing schemes under this Programme in 35 States, except for Lagos State where land has not been donated by the state government for the programme. The housing types currently available comprise of 1 Bedroom, 2 Bedroom and 3 Bedroom semi-detached bungalows and condominiums. The Philosophy behind the National Housing Programme is the provision of pilot scheme that is affordable, accessible and acceptable as contained in the National Housing Policy. The approach to the design and use of materials take cognizance of the cultural and climatic peculiarities of the regions while responding also to the tenets of the Building Energy and Efficiency Code (BEEC) being championed by the Ministry.
7. For the benefit of Nigerian on this initiative, over 1,200 building contractors have been engaged under phases I, II and III of the programme since the inception in 2016 and over 14,500 and 50,140 direct and indirect jobs have been created. 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 35 States and FCT.
8. At this juncture, I welcome you all once again to the commissioning of this laudable initiative in Imo State.
Thank you and God bless you.
