The Coalition of Civil Society Groups for Peace and Good Governance has called on the Federal Housing Authority (FHA) to promptly settle outstanding payments owed to contractors working on the Bwari Housing Project.
In a statement issued yesterday by the national coordinator of the coalition, Comrade Isa Yakubu, the group expressed concern over the delays in payment, which they said have hindered progress on the much-needed housing initiative.
“This project was awarded to various contractors in April 2022. However, they could not commence work immediately as the site was not ready for construction. By the time work began, material and labour costs had surged.
“Despite these challenges and delays in payment, contractors remained committed to completing the project within the specified timeline.
“In February 2024, a new management team took over at the FHA. Since their assumption of office, they have refused to honour any valuation or payment certificates. This is despite the fact that some buildings were completed and handed over as instructed by the current administration.
“Many contractors took bank loans with high interest rates, using their properties as collateral – now lost to confiscation due to non-payment.
“All efforts to secure payments have been met with silence. Our findings indicate that the FHA leadership deliberately stalled the project because they did not award the contracts.
“As a result of these actions, contractors have abandoned the site, unable to continue work without receiving their dues. This project, which was meant to provide affordable housing, now stands as an abandoned site due to selfish interests, despite the availability of funds.
“While this project is left to waste, the FHA has advertised new ones, further misusing taxpayer money. We have sent three separate requests for a meeting with the MD to discuss these outstanding payments, but he has not responded in any form.
“As of today, the management has made no effort to settle these outstanding debts to the contractors,” he said.
