Naval Chief Restates Commitment To Tackle Housing Deficit

The Chief of the Naval Staff Vice Admiral Awwal Gambo has restated commitment to providing affordable housing for personnel both serving and retired.

He lamented that housing financing has become one of the most important factors affecting housing delivery.

Vice Admiral Gambo made this commitment while performing the foundation laying stone for the construction of Navy Estate Karshi phase 3 and Cluster H Admiralty Estate Navy Town Asokoro respectively.

He said though food, shelter and clothing remain the three basic necessities of humankind, housing constitutes a very significant part as the second most essential basic need, “where an individual grows and matures as a dependable part of society”.

“Accordingly, the impact of affordable housing to personnel welfare cannot be quantified as it is adjudged as a veritable tool for motivation and boosting morale in the Service”.

He however, noted that housing financing has become one of the most important factors affecting housing delivery. “Accordingly, sequel to the 1991 National Housing Policy recognizing the importance of private sector engagement, various governments have encouraged private sector financing organizations to participate in the provision of housing delivery financing”.

He told the developers that their selection as preferred partners for “this all-important project means a lot towards the actualization of the Nigerian Navy housing dream.

“Accordingly, it is expected you remain committed to the ideals of delivering quality, decent, comfortable and safe housing in line with the agreements signed and within stipulated timelines for delivery.

” I therefore charge both consultants and developers to spare nothing towards ensuring that the vision and concept for this development are achieved to the latter and in line with industry and global best practices.

“There should be no short-cuts at the expense of safety and quality delivery and hopefully this project would be a reference point for other developments being planned by the Nigerian Navy in Abuja and other states of the country”.

He said the Nigerian Navy has over the years continued to prioritize home ownership in the hierarchy of its preferences which resulted in the establishment of the Nigerian Navy Post Service Housing Scheme Limited in November 2009 and subsequently, renamed Naval Building and Construction Company Limited on 5 July 2015.

He added that the Company has constructed the Navy Estates Karshi Phases 1 and 2, whose allocations are dominated by Nigerian Navy personnel both serving and retired.

In addition, the Nigerian Navy through the Navy Holdings Limited is working with some state governments to acquire land for development towards cushioning dearth of affordable housing for personnel.

He added that a process of developing post service housing is about to commence on 10.3 hectares of land allocated by Lagos State Government at Tokpo Badagry near ASCON.

He said Kaduna State Government has also allocated 3.36 and 2.75 hectares of land for Post Service houses and residential officers’ quarters respectively at the Millennium City 2 in Kujama as well as another 1.8 hectares for CNS Guest House in Mando.

Furthermore, the Governors of Akwa Ibom and Imo States approved the allocation of 200 hectares of land respectively to facilitate housing developments, which will benefit naval personnel as well as civil servants of both states.

In addition, discussions are ongoing with governments of Adamawa as well as Lagos states including the Federal Capital Territory for allocation of land.