Nasarawa resuscitates 500 housing units project

On May 29, Governor Umaru Tanko Al-Makura commissioned the first phase of this project, covering 300 units with 200 still to come, and commenced the process to give them out to workers. It is to be allocated to deserving beneficiaries who are contributors to the National Housing Fund Scheme on owner-occupier basis. “It is for this […]

On May 29, Governor Umaru Tanko Al-Makura commissioned the first phase of this project, covering 300 units with 200 still to come, and commenced the process to give them out to workers. It is to be allocated to deserving beneficiaries who are contributors to the National Housing Fund Scheme on owner-occupier basis.
 “It is for this reason that the sum of N237 million was released for the provision of infrastructure such as roads, water and electricity in the estate. The decision government took on the project was in tandem with the commitment of this administration towards the enhancement of the welfare of workers,” Al-Makura said during the commissioning of the project at the outskirts of Lafia, along Doma Road.  
 The project handled by Chipa Nigeria Limited and the state government under PPP was flagged off on May 12, 2008 by the former Secretary to the Federal Government (SFG), Yayale Ahmed who was led to the site by former governor, Aliyu Akwe Doma, who initiated it.
 The project which was part of the13-point agenda of that administration entails of 200 units of three-bedroom bungalows and 300 units of two-bedroom semi-detached bungalows.
 Chipa Nigeria Ltd invested N1.6 billion while the state government provided the entire basic infrastructure, such as land covering 58 hectares, access roads, electricity, street lights and potable water at a total cost of N1,028,872,633. The provision of facilities such as schools, markets and clinics is privatised.
 The project was abandoned and it fell in the hands of vandals who peeled the structures of various fittings.  
 “It’s worthy to note that since its inception in 2008, the project suffered setbacks, leading to abandonment by the administration that conceived it. Consequently, it became imperative to reappraise the project vis-a-vis the huge investment made on it,” the governor said during the event.
 According to him, arrangements have been concluded for the completion of the remaining 200 houses within the third quarter of this year to ensure full occupation of the estate.
“Let me use this opportunity to assure you all that efforts are ongoing towards the provision of more housing units for the citizenry in other major cities across the state. This gesture of government is intended to reduce the plight of workers who are constantly exposed to the ever-increasing house rents,” Al-Makura expressed.
 Dr. Dominic Bako Adagadzu, the state Head of Service (HoS) who described the project as the first of its kind in the state, said beneficiaries will own the houses on a predetermined percentage of their salaries which will be deducted from source over a period of time.
 “This gesture is to save public servants from the exploitative tendencies of landlords who charge exorbitant rents,” Bako said, adding that the three-bedroom bungalows will be allocated to civil servants at the cost of N4 million each, while the two-bedroom semi-detached bungalows will be given at the cost of N2.9 million each.
He said workers must fulfill certain conditions for them to own the houses, including:  qualification to participate in the National Housing Fund Programme; completion of application forms; down payment of 10 percent deposit of the total cost; repayments/deductions will be made from the salaries of the beneficiaries at source; final allocation letters shall be given by the Primary Mortgage Institution with the approval of loan from the Federal Mortgage Bank of Nigeria.
Bako added that at the liquidation of the loan, the Federal Mortgage Bank will issue a Certificate of Occupancy (CofO) to the beneficiaries and execution of an agreement between the beneficiaries and the Federal Mortgage Bank.
He however said the governor has approved the payment of the 10 percent of the total cost of the houses as deposit to facilitate the immediate occupation of the houses by the beneficiaries of this policy.
“This gesture is in realization of the fact that many of the applicants can’t afford the payment of the deposit upfront, considering their financial constraints,” he said.
“In the same vein, government has also concluded plans to construct a befitting primary school, a clinic, a market, a staff club as well as provide sporting facilities within the housing estate. This is with a view to creating a modern residential facility for the benefit of the civil servants in the swtate. I however, urge all beneficiaries of these houses to desist from erecting illegal structures that will distort the initial master plan of the project,” he warned.
 The 2014 budget, which funded the completion of the project, has a forecast of N114billion for expenditure during the fiscal year with recurrent expenditure put at N59billion and capital expenditure estimate at N54billion.
 The budget promises to continue in the achievement of development objectives, including the completion of projects already started; housing infrastructure as one of them.