The minister of housing and urban development, Ahmed Musa Dangiwa, has revealed that the federal government, through its Renewed Hope Cities and Estates Programme, is currently building over 10,112 housing units spread across 14 active construction sites, nationwide.
Dangiwa who revealed this at the 6th Africa Housing Awards and Industry end of year dinner which took
place at the weekend in Abuja, also lauded that currently, about 12 Renewed Hope Estates, comprising 250 housing units each, across 12 states, with two states from each geo-political zone are all under construction at an advance stage.
The minister explained that the renewed cities are a larger urban projects being developed and said the FCT has about 3,112 renewed hope cities while Kano and Lagos with 2,000 units each with additional cities planned in Enugu, Borno as well as Rivers, and Nasarawa
Dangiwa also reiterated that the housing sector’s potential as a driver of economic growth is evident in the job opportunities that the Renewed Hope Cities and Estates Programme has created, adding that at an average of 25 jobs per house, the ongoing projects have directly and indirectly generated over 252,800 jobs for Nigerians, including skilled and unskilled workers
In his response to questions from journalists on cases of demolition of houses embarked upon in Abuja under the supervision of the FCT minister Nyesom Wike, the host of the housing awards as well as the Executive Director, Housing Development Advocacy Network, Festus Adebayo noted that the FCT minister has the right to carry out demolition without obtaining court orders but cautioned that it should be done with some level of restraint and caution.
Adebayo who sighted a case in Lugbe where demolition was still on and documents were brought stating the reallocation of those lands as a wrong decision and described it as an economic waste to wait for buildings to be completed before embarking on such demolition plans.
“In recent times, there have been rules and cries over demolitions in the Federal Capital Territory by the Honourable Minister. I would like to say clearly that there is a need for the Minister to do his constitutional responsibilities. I’ve heard some people saying that he needs to get a court order before embarking on demolition.
That is not true. The Urban Regional Planning Law of the country gives powers to the governor and even the FCT minister to embark on demolition. But I must say clearly, the minister must exercise some restraint in the course of doing that.
“You can imagine the case in Lugbe, where demolition was still going on, and we saw some documents stating the reallocation of those lands. That cannot stand. That is not right”.
“I’ve heard the minister say, if he does not give land to his friend, do you want him to be giving land to his enemies? No. I’d like to use this programme from the Affordable Housing Hall of Fame to call on the minister for FCT to please exercise some restraint. And he should refuse to be misled.”
“Imagine the case of the Ogbebo. Who has been in that house for 40 years. There is no need for demolition. All that we need to do is to discuss. The bill has been served. Let the family of Ogbebo pay the bill. There is no need for demolition. That 40 years is enough to lay claim to that place, he said “
While also praising the FCT minister’s drive in bringing some developmental stride to Abuja, the housing expert emphasised that those who were involved in abusing public positions and involving in money laundering to build houses and abandoned them should be penalised and the buildings should be confiscated. He said heavy tax can also be placed on those idle properties, adding that rather than put much effort in demolishing houses , the minister should pay more attention to property taxing.
“We heard someone acquired 753 units of houses. How do you describe that? That is called money laundering. He got the money through illegal means. He got the land also through the use of his position. He started a company that is not linked to him to do the transaction.”
“The empty houses are a product of money laundering.
And that is why we are saying we should get to the area of confiscating and acquiring those houses. If you know you don’t want to acquire them, when you see a property that is abandoned, please tell Wike, we need him to do more on property tax, not on demolition. All the empty houses in Maitama, Asokoro, put tax on them.
Get to know the one that is empty. Put tax on them. By the time they are paying a heavy bill, every year, we will get the house out, he advised.”
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