National Housing Programme: In Tandem with the LOCAL CONTENT POLICY

The National Housing Programme (NHP) Project Team Leader in Enugu State, Architect. Tina Eneh, has revealed that the Policy on local content of the Federal Government has started yielding result, saying that except the locks fixed on the doors, all other materials , as well as, personnel at the Enugu site of NHP, are locally sourced.

The Team Leader, said this in Enugu while receiving the Minister of State I for Power, Works and Housing, Hon Mustapha Baba Shehuri, who was on working tour of  sites under the National Housing Programme (NHP) in the South- East geo-political zone.

Earlier in Owerri, the Imo State Capital, the Minister had called on the Governor, Owelle Rochas Okorocha, to intervene in a land dispute between the Federal Government and the Federal University of Technology, (FUTO) ,which is threatening the scheduled delivery of houses under the NHP, in the State.

He stated that a total number of 68 houses are presently under construction, which comprises 16 units of three-bedroom flats, 28 two-bedrooms and a three-storey condominium block of 4 units of one-bedroom, 16 of two-bedroom and 4 of three-bedroom.

The Minister, having expressed his concern over the slow pace of work at the site in Owerri, promised that government will pay the contractors their money as at when due, while urging the contractors to put in more efforts in order to deliver within agreed time frame.

Similarly, in Anambra State, the Minister assured the government and the good people of the State of  Federal Government’s readiness to complete all on-going projects including those started by  previous Administrations.

The Minister also appreciated the government and the people of Anambra for making land available for the project, adding that the NHP, in the State, comprises of 3 blocks of 3 storey condominium block of 24 units (1bedroom-4 units, 2 bedroom-18units, 3bedroom -4units) He reiterated that the project being one of the campaign promises of the present Administration, the Federal Government will do all that is necessary to provide Nigerians with affordable houses and gainful employment.

In his Welcome Address, the Governor of Anambra State who was represented by the Secretary to the State Government, Prof Solo Osita Chukwulobelu, expressed his gratitude to the Federal Government for finding Anambra worthy of this laudable project, promising that the state government would do the needful in providing accessible road to the construction site. He enjoined the Federal Government not to abandon the project as it will add value to the economic prosperity of the state, adding  that the commercial activities of the host community will be highly enhanced.

While in Abakaliki, Ebonyi State, Hon. Shehuri urged the state Governor, Egnr. David Umahi to expedient action on the release of Letters of Exchange for National Housing Programme’s land and that of the Federal Secretariat.

FG Provides N500bn to Resuscitate FMBN for Mortgage Facilities

The Federal Government says it has provided N500 billion to resuscitate the Federal Mortgage Bank of Nigeria (FMBN) to make mortgage facilities easily available to Nigerians. Alhaji Mustapha Baba-Shehuri, Minister of State for Power, Works and Housing, announced this in Lafia on Monday when he called on the Nasarawa State Deputy Governor, Mr Silas Agara.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the minister visited the site of a National Housing Project (NHP) in Lafia. “The resuscitation of the bank with N500 billion will provide the institution with adequate funds to provide mortgage facilities to interested Nigerians. “The Federal Government in its quest to provide shelter to Nigerians, has recently directed the FMBN to waive the payment of 10 percent equity on mortgages below N5 million. “This will greatly enhance the transition of low income earners from tenants to home owners,’’ he said.

Baba-Shehuri explained that the project would provide houses and jobs for low income earners. The minister said the houses would be built based on Nigerian housing design with 100 per cent local content. “The housing project came up with a 100 per cent Nigerian housing design and local content. “This is done because government wants to create employment for Nigerian youths,’’ he said.

The minister commended the state government for providing land for the National Housing Project, saying that it was in line with President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration’s promise of providing infrastructure. Baba-Shehuri said the ministry would leave no stone unturned in tackling the challenges of housing shortage in the country which was about 16 million to 17 million. He disclosed that the government had commenced plan to construct mass housing units in every state for public and private workers over the next three years.

Responding, the Deputy Governor thanked the minister for the visit and commended the Buhari led administration for initiating the project. “We assure you as a state that we will partner with your ministry to ensure that the project is successfully completed. “As you are aware, we have fulfilled our part by providing a good location in Akruba in the outskirts of Lafia metropolis for the project,’’ he said.

The minister visited the ongoing project in Akruba in Lafia Local Government Area comprising 76 houses of one, two and three-bedroom apartments.

Remarks By The Hon. Minister Of Housing And Urban Development, Arc. Ahmed Musa Dangiwa, At The Ground-Breaking For The 250-Housing Unit Renewed Hope Estate In Oyo State On Tuesday, July 9, 2024

Protocols

Distinguished Guests, Ladies and Gentlemen,

First, I would like to thank His Excellency, the Executive Governor of Oyo State, Oluwaseyi Abiodun Makinde for honoring our invitation to the groundbreaking for a 250-housing unit Renewed Hope Estate here in the State’s capital. This event was originally scheduled to hold last week but we had to move it forward owing to a presidential engagement. I thank His Excellency for understanding with us and regret all inconveniences that may have been caused by the change of schedule. 

Today’s ceremony is a continuation of the nationwide groundbreaking exercise for housing projects under the Renewed Hope Cities and Estates Programme of the Federal Ministry of Housing and Urban Development, which His Excellency, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, launched in February with the groundbreaking of a 3,112-housing unit in Karsana, Abuja.

Under Phase One of this programme, we plan to deliver a total of 50,000 housing units across Nigeria. This includes 7 Renewed Hope Cities that will have between 500 and 1,000 housing units per site in each of the six geopolitical zones in the country and the FCT, while the Renewed Hope Estates will have 250 units per site in the remaining thirty (30) states.

With this housing programme, we plan to unlock the massive potential of housing development to create jobs, uplift lives, and boost economic development. This is in line with the Renewed Hope Agenda of Mr. President to STIMULATE INCLUSIVE GROWTH, LIFT 100 MILLION NIGERIANS OUT OF POVERTY, AND BUILD A $1 TRILLION ECONOMY.

As you may recall, last month, following the presidential launch of the programme in Abuja, we embarked on the first leg of this exercise with the groundbreaking of 1,500 housing units in the northern part of Nigeria. This includes 250-housing unit Renewed Hope Estates, one each in Katsina, Yobe, Gombe, and Sokoto, and a 500-housing unit Renewed Hope City in Kano. Work is currently ongoing at each of these sites, and our plan is to have all of them completed within the next couple of months and made available to Nigerians in line with Mr. President’s desire to provide quality housing for all Nigerians. UNDER THE RENEWED HOPE AGENDA, WE ARE IMPLEMENTING A ZERO TOLERANCE FOR UNCOMPLETED PROJECTS.

Today’s event in Oyo completes the second leg of the exercise with groundbreaking for a total of 2,000 Renewed Hope Housing Units across eight (8) states in the South and North Central. We started two weeks ago on Wednesday July 26th with 250 units in Ebonyi. Same week Thursday we were in Abia for another 250 units, Friday we were in Akwa Ibom for another 250 units, and Saturday we were in Delta State for another 250 units. 

Last week Monday we were in Osun State to flag off 250 units. Friday we proceeded to Benue State to break ground for 250 units and Saturday we were in Nasarawa State to flag off another 250 units. Today’s groundbreaking in Oyo, marks the 8th under the second leg and the 13th location since the Presidential flag off in February with a total of 3,500 housing units.  

This estate comprises 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.

We have designed these housing units in a way that makes them affordable for people to acquire by using organic designs to allow for future expansion as the income of beneficiaries increases. This means that a 1-bedroom unit can be expanded to 2 bedrooms, and a 2-bedroom unit can also be expanded to 3 bedrooms as the owner’s financial situation improves or their family grows.

As we perform this groundbreaking, I want to charge the contractors
1. Messrs Skyhawk Nig. Ltd
2. Messrs Plusvaz Nigeria Ltd
3. Messrs Blue Sea Investment Ltd
4. Messrs Harama Global Ltd

to ensure that they build according to specifications. I want to emphasize in very strong terms that we will not tolerate substandard work from any developer, and we will explore all necessary legal means, to ensure that they deliver as per the contract. IF YOU COLLECT GOVERNMENT MONEY, YOU MUST DO THE WORK.

We also want the developers to adhere to the timeline and finish within three months so that we can begin the process of getting Oyo indigenes to purchase and move in.

To ensure affordability, we have created different options to enable everyone who has a source of income and livelihood to own these homes when they are completed. These include single-digit mortgage loans that beneficiaries can repay over 30 years, rent-to-own schemes provided by the Federal Mortgage Bank of Nigeria, and outright purchase options for those who can afford to pay upfront.

Statistics show that the construction of one housing unit creates an average of 25 direct and indirect jobs. So, for these 250 housing units in Oyo State, we hope to create jobs for over 6,500 people in various trades, from professionals like architects, civil engineers, and mechanical engineers to masons, plumbers, tilers, electricians, and laborers. We have seen unskilled workers at other project sites earning as much as N35,000 per week, at an average of N5,000 per day. This amounts to about N140,000 per month.

This is in addition to the economic activities, including those selling food, supplying blocks, and providing building materials. The value chain effect of construction work on this site is significant and creates a positive economic impact.

I want to state that under the Renewed Hope Agenda of His Excellency, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, we at the Federal Ministry of Housing and Urban Development are very particular about giving Nigerians value for money. We are diligently funding these projects from the N50 billion 2023 Supplementary Budget that Mr. President approved for the Ministry to ensure sustainability, quality, and geographic spread.

It is important to say that the provision of land in a good location and at no cost is a key condition for siting Renewed Hope Housing Projects. The twelve states covered under this 2023 supplementary budget are those that first provided land. I want to assure that states that have not been covered will be included in the Ministry’s 2024 Budget on a first-come, first-served basis, on the condition that they provide land at no cost to enhance affordability.

At this juncture, I want to appreciate and thank His Excellency, the Executive Governor of Oyo State, His Excellency Oluwaseyi Abiodun Makinde for promptly granting our request for the provision of land at no cost. 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 for this. 

Before I close my remarks, I want to thank and appreciate our President for providing the vision and the political will necessary for us to make a difference in terms of delivering decent and quality housing to Nigerians. The Groundbreaking ceremonies for these projects demonstrate that Mr. President and indeed the federal government of Nigeria is committed to fulfilling promises and responsibilities to all Nigerians.

Long live Oyo State and His Excellency, the Executive Governor.
Long live the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
Long live Mr. President.
 

Welcome Remarks By The Hon. Minister Of State For Housing And Urban Development, Alh. Tijjani Gwarzo At The Official Groundbreaking Ceremony For 250-Housing Units Renewed Hope Estate In Oyo On Tuesday July 9 2024

Protocols

Your Excellencies, Distinguished Guests, Ladies and Gentlemen. 

I want to begin my remarks by specially welcoming the Executive Governor of Oyo State, His Excellency, Oluwaseyi Abiodun Makinde. We are happy to have you here with us today.

It is indeed my pleasure to welcome you all, on behalf of the Honourable Minister of Housing and Urban Development, Arc. Ahmed Musa Dangiwa, to the groundbreaking ceremony for the 250-housing unit Renewed Hope Estate.

This project is part of a Nationwide Renewed Hope Cities and Estates Programme of the Ministry, which His Excellency President Bola Ahmed Tinubu officially launched earlier this year in Abuja, under which we plan to deliver 50,000 housing units in phase one.

Our broad aim through this programme is to TURN THE COUNTRY INTO A HUGE CONSTRUCTION SITE, unlock the power of the housing sector to create jobs, boost economic development, and help achieve Mr. President's goal to build a $1 trillion economy. 

This 250-housing units Estate project will create job opportunities during the construction phase for masons, bricklayers, plumbers, electricians, traders, and suppliers of building materials.

We look forward to quality construction work and a timely completion of the project.

Your Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen, I want to thank you for sparing time out of your very busy schedules to be here with us today.

Thank you, and God bless.