A human rights activist in Kogi State, Idris Miliki Abdul, has called on the state government to build affordable houses for workers on an owner-occupier basis.
Miliki who is the executive director, Conscience for Human Rights and Conflict Resolution (CHRCR), stated this recently while interacting with journalists in Lokoja the state capital.
Comrade Miliki noted that Kogi State plays host to two giant cement companies but has yet to take advantage of them to build houses for its citizens, saying that even the creation of the new Ministry of Housing Development has not addressed the situation.
“The Kogi state government has not built and commissioned houses despite the presence of Dangote cement and Mangal cement, both located in Kogi West.
“The government can go into a Memorandum of Understanding (Mou) with the cement companies to build infrastructure that will improve the welfare of workers and other citizens in the state.
“When Governor Ahmed Usman Ododo created the ministry of housing, people were happy thinking that more estate houses would be built for workers, but after more than a year in office, not a single house was built. This is worrisome and condemnable in a state that plays host to two cement companies.
“If previous administrations can build government house, build Otokiti housing estate, build 200 and 500 housing units, build Aniebo quarters, build legislative quarters, build workers village, among others. I see no reason why the present administration is foot-dragging to do the same in the interest of the citizens,” he said.
