Building people by putting a roof above their heads

Therefore, providing decent housing to the people had consistently occupied a major place of priority for various governments across the world. Sixteen years after the creation of Yobe State, the challenges of housing accommodation to civil servants, the business community, corporate organizations, government establishments and private individuals had remained with the people. As recently as […]

Therefore, providing decent housing to the people had consistently occupied a major place of priority for various governments across the world. Sixteen years after the creation of Yobe State, the challenges of housing accommodation to civil servants, the business community, corporate organizations, government establishments and private individuals had remained with the people. As recently as six years ago, some civil servants in Damaturu the state capital were forced to be operating from Maiduguri and Potiskum daily due to scarcity of housing accommodation, until the major intervention into the sector in 2007 by the Mamman Ali/Ibrahim Gaidam administration.
To the delight of us the beneficiaries in particular, and people of the state in general, Governor Gaidam graciously and benevolently announced a 65 per cent waiver subsidy which translates into a generosity of every beneficiary paying only 35 per cent of the cost price of the houses. And to provide succour to families who lost their bread-winners, the outstanding balance of all government houses provided under the owner/occupier programme were written off.
The just-completed 300 housing units at the Gujba-Maiduguri road by pass in Damaturu, which are yet to be occupied will further provide another segment of the society with relief and, taste of decent accommodation in the state capital. Similarly, the construction of 39 doctors’ quarters in the hospitals is a major feat and good incentive that will attract doctors to the state and to boost healthcare delivery in a growing urban state capital like Damaturu. It is gratifying that civil servants in the state now retire as proud house owners that was paid with little or no stress courtesy of the Gaidam administration housing policy.
As we face the problem of insurgency with the attendant migration consequences, many families that migrated into Damaturu had had some sense of relief as they settled with their relations in the various housing estates in the state capital. This provided them with sense of relief and security while on the other hand, government was able to reach out and identify such people with ease for assistance.
Certainly, the lives of civil servants and other private individuals who benefitted from the housing policy in Yobe state have attained another level of human development. We are indeed proud of this policy and, administration. In Yobe, we are proud that an effective and realistic housing policy is at work.
Al-Ameen writes from No.3 B, Bra-Bra Housing Estate, Damaturu