Governor Sule Flags Off 430 Housing Units For Workers

Nasarawa State governor, Abdullahi Sule, has performed the groundbreaking ceremony for the construction of 430 affordable housing units under the Federal Mortgage Bank of Nigeria (FMBN) workers housing scheme.

The groundbreaking ceremony took place at the project site located along Shendam road, Lafia, the state capital.

Speaking at the ceremony, Governor Sule said the project was part of his administration’s commitment to providing affordable housing for civil servants in the state.

He explained that the partnership with FMBN would ensure that workers who have been contributing to the National Housing Fund can finally become home owners.

He disclosed that the idea for the project started in 2021, long before the current management of FMBN came on board, adding that the state government had been looking for ways to address the housing needs of workers and the partnership with the bank provided the opportunity to make it happen.

The governor explained that the project was a product of years of reforms under the Nasarawa Economic Development Strategy, noting that the state government had streamlined land administration and improved land title documentation to reduce bottlenecks in acquiring land.

He noted that the government also strengthened the public private partnership framework by making procurement and project delivery more transparent.

“These reforms created an enabling environment that gave confidence to our federal partners and made this project financing possible,” the Governor said.

He commended the managing director of FMBN, Mr Shehu Usman Osidi, for choosing Nasarawa State as one of the beneficiaries of the bank’s housing programme, describing Osidi as a proud son of the state who is using his position to bring development to his people.

On his part, the managing director and chief executive officer of FMBN, Mr Shehu Usman Osidi, said the groundbreaking marked another milestone in the bank’s efforts to deliver affordable housing to Nigerian workers.

He disclosed that over 430 housing units would be built in the first phase of the project across four locations covering the three senatorial zones of the state. He listed the locations to include Akwanga, Lafia, Gudi, Toto, Doma and Keana.

He said the event was not just about starting a housing project but a celebration of visionary leadership and partnership aimed at improving the lives of the people of Nasarawa State.

Also speaking, the secretary general of the Trade Union Congress (TUC), Comrade Nuhu Toro, described the project as a foundation for dignity and stability for workers.