Managing director of the Federal Housing Authority (FHA), Senator Gbenga Ashafa, has appealed to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the leadership of the National Assembly to assist in the speedy process of the amendment of the agency’s enabling Act.
Ashafa who said this at the weekend during the occasion of the 50th anniversary celebration of the FHA, also revealed that the management of the Authority has started the process and that they hope that the earliest amendment would enhance the operational capacity of the authority.
He spoke against the backdrop of issues suggesting that the authority has to innovate new ways of doing things in order to live up to its expectation of providing affordable housing and reiterated that the authority has qualified professionals and assets to secure its loans. He added that they have qualified professionals who are well grounded in the building industry that can be able to accomplish the mandate of housing delivery for all cadres of Nigerians.
While reiterating that staff members of the FHA are well motivated with a conducive and digitalised environment to carry out effective tasks demanded of them, Ashafa agreed to the fact that the authority needs funding and that the experts would help determine how the funds would be generated.
“Our members of staff are no longer looking at the four walls of FHA, or Festac, or Awka but beyond the shores of the nation. Because that was not the way we used to do it. We have made up our mind to tell the world that we have enough assets to secure our loans. To tell the world that before we start going to the extreme of demolition, if you build on the pathway of drains and roads without approval, you have to go.
We can explore all other areas and it should be the last option to think of.
“In our own way we have introduced what we call VRR- Verification, Regularisation and Recovery. This will enable anyone to be certified with building code in line with FHA approval to start building. This is the way to go. We know that Nigerians had been patient to see FHA conform and perform in line with its mandate,” he stated.
