President Bola Tinubu-led federal government is committed to guarantee that Nigerians have access to accommodation at reduced cost, Minister of Housing and Urban Development, Arc. Ahmed Dangiwa has stated.
Dangiwa said President Tinubu has undertaken significant action plan towards addressing housing deficit with a view to reducing cost of accommodation in Nigeria.
The minister state this as the special guest at the Annual General Meeting of the Real Estate Developers Association in, Uyo, Akwa Ibom State capital.
He assured Nigerians of affordable housing as the federal government’s Renewed Hope Initiative (RHI), becomes fully implemented.
Represented by the Federal Controller at the ministry, Engr. Edwin Gyenger, the minister disclosed Tinubu has initiated various programmes primarily aimed at addressing these deficit and also trying to sustain the development of urban areas.
He added that the federal government has initiated the Renewed Hope Housing Scheme aimed at reducing the housing deficit by increasing the supply of affordable housing to low income earners, currently handled by the federal ministry of housing.
He, therefore, charged the contractors to work towards timely completion of these projects with quality and standards.
In the same vein, Akwa State governor, Pastor Umo Eno, said his administration has intervened in the housing sector with affordable housing scheme initiated under the ARISE Agenda blueprint of his government.
The Governor, who was represented by the commissioner for Housing, Hon. Henry Archibong, said the housing scheme scattered across the three senatorial districts of Uyo, Ikot Ekpene and Eket, targeted low income earners and workers including those in the state aviation sector and the rural areas.
“You heard me mention the Aviation Village which is going to provide accommodation for the aviation workers and by the time that place is open, you will see a lot of development getting into that place and even though that place is the airport, it is still a rural community and so you will see that place open up.
“In the Base estate, the Governor has paid for 150 houses for low income civil servants and they have taken those houses, the Governor is also creating a medical corridor close to the specialist hospital and he is going to provide housing for the doctors.
“Also, recently, there has been the mass housing scheme that was developed by former Governor Akpabio in the three senatorial district, the present government is interested in doing more developments there,” the commissioner said.
The State Chairman of REDAN, Arc. Godwin James, made a case for serious government commitment to addressing the housing challenges through mass investment in the sector.
Disclosing the benefits of REDAN in the housing sector, Arc. James described it as enormous, saying the organisation was working in collaboration with stakeholders and policymakers to ensure affordable housing for all.
“REDAN is going to tap into the promises made by the government,” he added, “A lot of promises, have been made, ours is to follow up on the things the Housing commissioner has mentioned and make sure those promises come to pass especially now that the government has a lot of things in their hands and it requires a lot of pressure and for us to remind them about their roles.”
