11, 000 Houses Ready Across Nigeria, Minister Claims
The Nigerian government on Sunday claimed it has completed 11, 000 housing units across the country.
The minister of works and housing, Babatunde Raji Fashola, disclosed this in an interview with Arise TV.
He said, “We have pilot housing projects in 34 states. We are now in some phases. Phases two and three have a total of over 5,000 housing units.
“There is an inherited pilot programme of about 6,000 units and in fact we’ve finished that as well, to give you about 11,000 units.”
The minister further stated that there had been other interventions that had led to the construction of thousands of mass housing projects across the country.
Fashola said, “There are interventions from mortgage and real estate developers by the Federal Mortgage Bank of Nigeria of about 25,000 units across the country.
“And the Federal Housing Authority is also building and developing on its own and in partnership in many parts of the country.”
The minister said private investors were also investing massively in the housing sector and expressed hopes that the country’s housing deficit would be adequately reduced.
Nigerian Sketch reported earlier that the Nigerian government has launched an online platform for its National Housing Scheme.
The government stated that platform, which will facilitate the ownership of affordable housing via home ownership and rental schemes in urban and rural areas, is available in 34 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
Lagos State is yet to provide the government with land while Rivers State will join in phase three of the project.
It urged Nigerians to register and apply for these houses online via nhp.worksandhousing.gov.ng.
The requirements for application are: Passport photograph, current tax clearance payslip, letter of recommendation, means of identification and evidence of 10 percent initial deposit (for mortgage subscribers only).
Fashola said “This is the first time we have a platform that every Nigerian has access to. This provides an opportunity for all Nigerians to apply and ensure a fair process of allocation.
“We introduced the online portal from which the national housing programme will be offered to members of the public.
“The forms are online and allow for more openness, limits human interventions, and holds us more accountable. The endgame is an economic objective.
“During the planning, the country was in a recession. About 1,000 contractors (small and big) got contracts. No international contractors were involved but Nigerians.
“It also gave the contractors an opportunity to sustain their staff. Also, all materials for the project were local made materials,” he said.
Fashola noted that the least amount of house selling on the scheme is N7.2 million while the highest selling is N16.19 million.
He added: “Applicants can also take a virtual tour of the property they are interested in. They can apply and register with email and phone number. Upon verification, they can complete their application.
“We have included the abridged drawings of each estate. When an allocation is booked on the online portal, it will show that it is no longer available. This way we avoid duplicity.
“We have different house types which are the result of a survey we undertook. There are 1,2,3 bedroom semi-detached bungalows. It is not only the house but it also has adjoining lands. There are also 1,2,3 bedrooms in the condominium.
“We will soon start the official handover and tape cutting as the subscribers come in. We have maintenance and facilities managers in all the estates. We encourage people to pay through mortgages.”
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