‘Why the Hill is under Zuma Rock’
What is Shelter Plus doing?Currently, we have an ongoing project at the foot of the Zuma Roack. The project about 500 housing units is called the Hill.We want to make the project our signature in the sense that we’ve taken quality into consideration. Even though it’s mass housing, the end users who’re our customers will […]
What is Shelter Plus doing?
Currently, we have an ongoing project at the foot of the Zuma Roack. The project about 500 housing units is called the Hill.
We want to make the project our signature in the sense that we’ve taken quality into consideration. Even though it’s mass housing, the end users who’re our customers will get value for money. We hinge our hope on the fact that their satisfaction will be the window for us for more market.
Are you doing it in collaboration with government?
No. not yet.
There’s an abandoned estate that was developed by the Niger State government close to that rock. Are you aware?
We know. We did a proper survey of that area as well as investigations into the needs of the customers. In a few months time, when you go to our estate, you’ll…even though it’s on the outskirts of Abuja, estates in the Abuja can hardly beat us. We take a lot into consideration.
Those houses you see built by the Niger State government, there’re very close to the main road. They’re hazards. They didn’t consider the safety of the end user. Housing isn’t just putting a structure. There’re so many things that come into consideration. We’ve taken most of these things into consideration so the estate I’m talking about is a place where you’ll be happy to live, work and play.
You know, most people in Abuja are workers so areas they live should be atmosphere they can relax and recharge so they can do their job better.
As a developer when you see projects that should be thing of attraction but left to become eyesore, does it prick anything in you?
It does. That’s why in this case, we’re not collaborating with anybody. Because sometimes developers collaborate with somebody or take loans and the pressure comes and they begin to cut corners.
Probably, you see the first structures well done in quality and then subsequently quality begins to drop because they think of the overhead and the interest on the loans. Sometimes relationship collapses and then buildings and customers are left, the project uncompleted.
Is it the rock that attracted you there?
No it’s the total ambience of that place. The serene, beauty…the rock of course is an attraction but anybody who loves nature will fall in love with that place. We believe that the environment will add to the wellbeing of the residents.
How did you get the land?
From Niger State [government]. That land borders Abuja. We’re the first neigbours of Abuja because we’re adjacent to Dakwa. The land belongs Niger State. We paid for [it], we have our certificate, we have layout approval, building approval — everything is done correctly. We’re also trying to — because I’m from Niger State — to encourage people to invest in Niger State. We border Abuja – in some areas we’re almost overlapping. Many go to our site and think it’s FCT.
What’s the size of the land?
Thirty-five hectares.
Have investors in the contiguous areas to FCT really tapped into investment potential these areas present?
Not enough. Individuals have tapped into it because people have noticed, with the expressway now, it takes just about 15 minutes to get to Suleja, Zuba and those areas. Life is quieter, food is cheaper, the infrastructure are there. I believe when many investors realize the potential, they’ll begin to invest there.
With the congestion in Abuja and high cost of living, more investors should look at the satellite towns and the environs – Niger State, Kogi State on that side. They aren’t far. If we build them well, they’ll be proper support for the capital city.
REDAN had election in last month. New members have been put into the management of REDAN. What do we expect from the new team?
We’re very happy with this new membership because we have total belief in their intent to deliver quality, affordable housing to the Nigerian populace. We believe that the new REDAN will be all inclusive be the vehicle that all of us will ride to get to our desired destination.
What’s our desired destination? We know in Nigeria who the actual developers are. We have all kinds of people claiming to be developers. Some of us, our friends and families have been defrauded by the so-called developers. The new president is trying to check this. We have a proper register that the public can key in and hold developers and what they’re developing.
We also monitor the quality of housing because we want REDAN to be the first port of call for any intending buyer of property. We want to make housing not only easy to access but also make it safer. Because we’re dealing with people who’re genuine, who’re traceable, who have record and do the right thing.