Fatima Haliru —
The Federal Mortgage Bank of Nigeria (FMBN) said in conjunction with Mshel Homes Limited, through its Staff Multi-purpose Cooperatives Society Limited, it plans to build 139 housing units to Federal Capital Territory (FCT) workers.
Chairman, FMBN, Mr. Ayodeji Gbeleyi, during the foundation laying, said they are committed to ensuring that Nigerians have access to decent accommodation through affordable mortgage financing for low and middle income earners.
He said approval and disbursement of the loan for the project was an indication of the bank’s desire to continue empowering Nigerians in the area of homeownership through home construction and mortgage.
Represented by Mrs. Nkechi Ejezie, Gbeleyi said: “We are using this to drive home affordable accommodation through the Cooperative Housing Development Loan window with which the bank finances houses for contributors to the National Housing Fund (NHF), to enable them buy their apartments.
“This past month, we have started the inauguration of 1,400 housing units delivered in 14 states across the six geo-political zones under the Phase I of the Workers Affordable Housing Scheme. We also commenced 2, 5000 units at 180 per state of the federation.”
The bank’s Managing Director, Mr. Hamman Madu, said they had opened several residential housing estates in eight states, in collaboration with the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC), Trade Union Congress (TUC) and Nigerian Employers’ Consultative Association (NECA).
“The giant stride we are making nationwide is aimed at reducing housing deficit and empowering Nigerians at all levels to develop affordable products and schemes to grant at least six per cent to those subscribing to our NHF,” he remarked.
Beisdes, the Group Managing Director, Mshel Homes Limited, Baka Mshellia, said they planned to provide affordable homes to low-income earners, saying: “We intend to keep the passion of the bank by constructing quality housing units.”
The President, Staff Cooperative Society, Muhammad Lawal, said the idea of building an estate had been one of their priorities.
REDAN Executive Secretary, Yunusa Shuaibu called for the recapitalisation of FMBN, adding that the apex mortgage institution could achieve much if more funds were injected into it.
In a related development, the Minister of State for Transportation, Prince Ademola Adegoroye, has inaugurated a 60-housing unit constructed by FMBN and Abiskoly Housing Estate at Peggy, Kuje, Abuja for the National Human Rights Commission Cooperatives Society.
