FG commences construction of NHP houses in Niger

The  Minister of State for Power, Works and Housing, Mustapha Baba Shehuri has reiterated that the current  administration is unequivocally committed to addressing the housing needs of Nigerians through the National Housing Programme (NHP).  He explained that the programme was part of Federal Government’s campaign promise to provide critical infrastructure that would enhance the socio- […]

The  Minister of State for Power, Works and Housing, Mustapha Baba Shehuri has reiterated that the current  administration is unequivocally committed to addressing the housing needs of Nigerians through the National Housing Programme (NHP). 

He explained that the programme was part of Federal Government’s campaign promise to provide critical infrastructure that would enhance the socio- economic development of the country.

The Minister, who was in Minna, Niger State, on the first leg of his inspection tour of NHP sites in the North- Central geo-political zone, stated this during a courtesy call on the Governor of the State, who was represented by the Acting Governor, Alhaji Ahmad Muhammed Ketso. He informed him that the Ministry was constructing about 80 housing units in the state in the first phase of the Programme even as promised that the state would benefit more as government continues to drive the Programme. 

 He thanked the  Governor for  providing a 5 – acre plot of land for the NHP, adding that the site location is amongst the best in the country.

In his response, the acting governor said the state would  continue to collaborate with the Federal Government in bringing development to the people towards improving their living standards. He, however, observed that  local contractors in the state were not being considered in the programme and appealed to the Minister to consider them in subsequent phases of the programme in accordance with the “local content” component of the  initiative. He also advised that the Ministry should maintain quality supervision of all its projects in its quest  to deliver  enduring and quality services to the people. 

The Federal Controller of Housing, Niger State, Mr Felix Appia, while commending the collaborative efforts between the State and the Federal Government in the execution of Federal Government  projects, disclosed that the Ministry apart from the housing Programme, is also undertaking other projects such as  solar – powered boreholes and construction of classroom blocks, under the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) projects and the renovation of the Federal Secretariat Complex.

The Minister also inspected the construction site situated within the Three Arms Zone, where he interacted with contractors, artisans, suppliers of building materials, food and allied items vendors. They expressed appreciation to the Federal Government for the laudable initiative, stating that the Programme has opened up new vistas of opportunity for them to revive their means of livelihood. 

 Shehuri  expressed satisfaction at the pace and quality of on-going works at the construction site, while urging the contractors to sustain the tempo and be consistent in the use of the best quality materials for the buildings. 

The 80 – unit Housing Estate comprises  of 4 units of one-bedroom, 52 units of two-bedroom and 24 units of three-bedroom, which are at various stages of completion.