Housing Ministry Takes Renewed Hope Housing Project to Yobe
.....inaugurates 250 Housing Units Estate
The ongoing groundbreaking of the Renewed Hope Cities and Estates Housing Project across some states of the federation by the Federal Ministry of Housing and Urban Development has landed in Yobe, with the inauguration of 250 housing units project by Governor, Mai Mala Buni of Yobe State, Friday, May 24th, 2024.
Governor Buni who performed the foundation laying, expressed profound gratitude and appreciation to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for his commitment to address the housing deficit, and to provide Nigerians with decent accommodation especially in states like Yobe that suffered massive loss to the protracted security challenge.
Buni also appreciated the Minister of Housing , Arc Musa Dangiwa and his able team for the kind consideration of Yobe state in the first phase of the programme.
" I am a keen follower of your activities and l am glad to say you have demonstrated great commitment to achieve your set goals" he stated
In his address, Minister of State for Housing and Urban Development, Abdullahi Tijjani Gwarzo,, stated that the groundbreaking event was a part of President Tinubu's comprehensive vision when he launched the Renewed Hope Cities and Estates project with a 3,112-housing unit project in Karsana, Abuja, earlier this year.
He explained " Under Phase One, we plan to deliver a total of 50,000 housing units across Nigeria. The cities will have between 500 - 1,000 housing units per site in one location in each of the six geopolitical zones in the country and the FCT, while the estates will have 250 units per site in the remaining thirty (30) states"
Gwarzo described the Renewed Hope Estate in Yobe to comprise 50 units of 1-bedroom semi-detached bungalows, 150 units of 2-bedroom semi-detached bungalows, and 50 units of 3-bedroom semi-detached bungalows.
He mentioned that the housing units have been designed in a way that would ensure easy accessibility and affordability for interested and potential off-taker, disclosing organic designs have been adopted to allow for future expansion as the income of beneficiaries increases.
"What this means is that the 1-bedroom can be expanded to 2 bedrooms and a 2-bedroom expandable to 3 bedrooms as the owner’s financial situation improves or he grows in service," the Minister explained.
To enable everyone with a source of income and livelihood own a home at the completion of these houses, the Minister revealed that government has created varieties of payment options which include single-digit mortgage loans with up to 30-year terms provided by the Federal Mortgage Bank of Nigeria, Rent-to-Own schemes, and Outright Purchase options for those who can afford to pay upfront.
The Minister, while giving assurance of the successful completion of these homes as well as their durability to ensure Nigerians have value for their money, disclosed that funding for the projects come from the N50 billion 2023 Supplementary Budget of the Federal Ministry of Housing and Urban Development noting the contracts for 3,500 housing units in 13 states.
Gwarzo expressed appreciation to the Governor of Yobe State, Mai Mala Buni for promptly providing the land for the project at no cost, urging States government yet to provide land to do so as states that have not been covered under the 2023 Supplementary budget will be included in the 2024 budget.
" This singular action has helped us to reduce as much as 30% of the cost of the units in this Estate for the benefit of potential homeowners. This is a dividend of responsible governance and I applaud Your Excellency," He enthused.
The Minister, while reiterating commitment of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on job creation and reviving the economy, assured that the housing programme would create jobs, uplift lives and boost economic development in Yobe State, pointing out that opportunities were created for people with different businesses like food vendors, suppliers of blocks and building materials to be engaged in one economic activity or the other, thereby creating a big value chain effect.
"Statistics show that construction one housing unit creates an average of 25 direct and indirect jobs. So, for these 250 housing units we are hoping to create jobs for over 6,500 people," he noted.
The Minister also charged the developers, Messrs. Katalyst Dynamics & Contracting Co. Ltd, Jikantiti Nigeria Limited, MB Yalwa Contractors Ltd, and 2 Horses Ventures Limited to ensure that they build according to specifications and deliver a quality job, adding that the work must be finished within the next three months so that process for offtake can begin.
Earlier in his address, Director, Planning,Research and Statistics, Ministry of Housing and Urban Development, Bala Saulawa revealed that the Ministry's aim is to turn Nigeria into a huge construction site through the Renewed Hope Housing Cities and Estate programme, unlock the power of the housing sector to boost economic development and help achieve President Tinubu's goal to build a $1 trillion economy.
