Gabriel Enenche —
Plans by the North East Development Commission (NEDC) to site 300 housing units at the Sabore hills, Yola South Local Council, about 150 kilometres from Yola, the state capital has drawn criticism from the public. It has been identified as a notorious den for kidnappers and other bandits in the state.
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Some of the critics, who spoke on condition of anonymity said that at the end of the project, many may be scared to occupy the houses due to the location.
Others said there was no attack in Yola South by Boko Haram and wondered why projects meant for victims of insurgents would be sited where there was no crisis.
“The towns that are supposed to benefit from this housing project are in Madagali, Michika, Hong, Mubi and Gombi local councils. I don’t know why Yola South that did not experience any attack will be the beneficiary of the houses”, said someone.
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Speaking at the sod-turning of the 500 housing units in Adamawa, Managing Director of NEDC, Alhaji Mohammed Alkali, noted that houses were destroyed by the insurgents in North East.
To ameliorate the housing crisis in the North East, the commission pencilled 10,000 houses for construction in the region, with each state getting 500 housing units and other palliatives.
He added that construction work would soon commence on three bridges destroyed by insurgents in Adamawa.
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Three hundred of the houses are located in Yola South and the remaining 200 houses will be spread among other cities in the state.
The governor of Adamawa state, Alhaji Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri however, urged the Federal Government to extend the mass housing projects to other states to reduce the housing deficit in the country.
