8000 apply for 3000 FG houses

Over 8000  civil servants have already subscribed for 3000 housing units for federal civil servants  located at Life Camp, Abuja. The estate is an affordable housing scheme project under construction by the federal government. Head of Civil Service of the Federation, Mrs. Winifred Oyo-Ita made the disclosure at an unveiling ceremony of an estate developer, […]

Over 8000  civil servants have already subscribed for 3000 housing units for federal civil servants  located at Life Camp, Abuja.

The estate is an affordable housing scheme project under construction by the federal government.

Head of Civil Service of the Federation, Mrs. Winifred Oyo-Ita made the disclosure at an unveiling ceremony of an estate developer, Brains & Harmmer.

According to her, the project is part of the Federal Integrated Staff Housing (FISH) programme for workers by the current administration of President Muhammadu Buhari.

She disclosed that over 8000 civil servants have already registered for the FISH programme aimed at providing affordable housing for the core Federal civil servants.

Oyo-Ita stated further that the choice of Brains and Harmmers was informed by the quality of work the company has been known for, as well as the commitment of the developer to deliver the housing units at reduced cost so as to make them affordable to workers.

The Head of Service stressed that provision of affordable housing for the civil servants had been her main priority since assumption of office as Head of Civil Service of the Federation, hence the introduction of FISH programme.

“I’m standing on the strong vision of President Muhammadu Buhari led administration to provide affordable housing for Nigerians. Civil servants are part of the population that are very much in need of housing,” she said.

Oyo-Ita, said it was unfortunate that while military, para-military and other agencies of government have similar housing programmes to alleviate the problems of shelter in Abuja, “the core civil servants who bear the burden of implementation of government policies and programmes are more or less forgotten.”

 According to her, she had  discussed with the management of the Federal Mortgage Bank of Nigeria (FMBN) on the need to provide mortgage loans at a reduced interest rate for civil servants.

The housing units are to cost between N5 million and N17 million of one-bedroom and four-bedroom respectively among the four housing types to be built at the Estate. The Head of Service explained that the prices were determined after an agreement was struck with  the developer to bear all the cost of  infrastructure and roads in the estate.

According to her, if other government ministries involved in the FISH programme were able to provide roads, power, and water, the prices of the housing units would be reduced for the civil servants.

Chairman of Brains & Harmmers, Mr Adebola Sheidu, disclosed that 1,000 units of the houses would be ready in six months for the first batch of the beneficiaries.

According to him, the Estate sitting on 72 hectares would accommodate 3,000 housing units with school, hospital and a big commercial area among others.