Phase One of the National Affordable Housing Delivery Programme was launched on Wednesday with commencement of construction works for 100 housing units for workers in Nasarawa State.
The project financed by the Federal Mortgage Bank of Nigeria (FMBN) is a joint initiative of the Nigeria’s apex mortgage bank, the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC), the Trade Union Congress (TUC) and the Nigeria Employer’s Consultative Association (NECA).
It is planned that each geo-political zone in Nigeria will get 200 housing units through the programme. If it goes well, it will become the country’s template for affordable housing.
The houses which are adjustable to suit location peculiarities are: one-bedroom, two-bedroom and three-bedroom semi-detached bungalows. Nasarawa State government provided five hectares of land for the project without any encumbrances and charges so as to make the houses really affordable to workers.
The houses are to be built by the new Kwandere-Keffi road in a place called Kwandere in Lafia Local Government Area. The contractor is Bes Belmon Ltd.
Beneficiaries are workers who are contributors to the National Housing Fund (NHF).
Shortly before cutting the tape to signify commencement of work, the Nasarawa State governor, Umaru Tanko Al-Makura promised to step down power from a high tension line to supply electricity in the estate.
He promptly granted request by FMBN for additional five hectares of land for expansion of the project.
The governor said he would see to timely completion of the project as he maintained that his administration complies with rules of workers engagement.
He said the housing project would open up ways for further collaboration for workers welfare, saying this would be morale booster for improved service delivery on the part of workers.
Al-Makura promised to reduce cost of government houses that would be put on sale to enable workers afford them.
According to him, the Nasarawa State government has reserved 13,000 hectares for provision of residential accommodation in the corridors of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
He beckoned FMBN and NLC to partner with Nasarawa State government to develop the land for the benefit of Nigerians.
Speaking earlier, the Managing Director of FMBN, Mr Ahmed Dangiwa described the project as unique because it involves all labour stakeholders in FMBN’s collaborations for affordable housing.
Dangiwa said the first phase of the programme will deliver 1,400 housing units across Nigeria’s six geo-political zones.
The Managing Director explained, “Each zone will have 200 houses with 100 units in two selected states. Abuja and Lagos are to be treated as special sites. Nasarawa is lucky to be one in the north-central geo-political zone due to its commitment to the NHF scheme…”
He thanked Governor Al-Makura “for promptly facilitating the provision of land for this project as soon as the request came before him.”
Dangiwa revealed that the housing designs and bills of quantities were directly commissioned by FMBN and passed to developers as template to ensure that costs range from N3.1 million to N8.3 million.
He however maintained that consultants and stakeholders will work together to see to adherence to set standards and timelines.
Once the houses are completed, FMBN will provide mortgage loans for 30-year period through selected Primary Mortgage Banks (PMBs) to workers who contribute to NHF, Dangiwa stated.
The bank manager said N3.7 billion had been expended through Estate Development Loans (EDLs) for construction of 1,138 houses in Nasarawa State.
“We’ve also advanced the sum of N255.7 million to 294 NHF contributors under the FMBN Home Renovation Loan. Just recently, the bank approved the sum of N464.02 million as Cooperative Housing Development Loan to Dalhatu Araf Specialist Hospital Staff Multipurpose Cooperative Society to construct 90 units of three-bedroom bungalows for its members,” Dangiwa said.
He expressed commitment of the bank to do better if it is recapitalized to the tune of N500 billion.
Calling on government agencies to emulate the initiative, NLC President Ayuba Wabba said housing is close to the heart of the Nigerian workers because housing takes away a good portion of the disposable income.
