The managing director/chief executive, FHA, Oyetunde Oladimeji Ojo, has disclosed that President Bola Tinubu has told the FHA and other estate developers to make houses affordable. He said this on Tuesday during the inauguration of the FHA Complex and Express View Estate, Lugbe, Abuja. He said the project was tailored towards the actualisation of the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Tinubu, championed under the Arc. Ahmed Musa Dangiwa- led housing ministry.
Ojo said the Authority had begun constructing the Renewed Hope Estate in 17 states of the country, adding that last month, it inaugurated about 100 houses in phase one of its estate at Ojoda in Ibadan, Oyo State.
Ojo said the Express View Estate in Lugbe, Abuja, comprised about 50 terraces and flats. When the project is completed, it will add 110 housing units to the national housing stock.
“I decided not to do an abandoned project because people have committed funds, and that’s what Mr. President told us. The houses are there, but people are not living there; they are government houses, and it’s because of the cost. The President said no. And so, for phase one of this project, it’s fully occupied.”
“The idea behind our management’s decision to adopt the carcass or semi-finishing model in our upcoming projects is that we will provide essential finishing like electrical wiring, plumbing, and a prototype exterior, while the allottee would choose the type of tiles and other finishing of their choice.
This would guarantee the affordability of the products, and unnecessary costs would not be passed on to the subscribers,” he said.
In his remarks, the minister of Housing and Urban Development, Arc. Ahmed Musa Dangiwa commended the managing director of FHA and his team and said the projects prove that the Authority is working hard and doing something right.
While praising the quality of work, the minister advised that stronger partnerships between FHA, FMBN, developers, mortgage institutions, cooperatives, pension funds, and the private sector are needed to change the housing story in Nigeria.
He said there was a need to mobilise resources not just from the government but from every available source so that they can build at scale and bring costs down.
“As minister, I am happy with the work FHA under the leadership of Hon. Oyetunde Ojo is doing. The Authority has the pedigree and the mandate — now is the time to turn its fortunes around and make it a true pride of our nation”, Dangiwa said.
