BY ABUBAKAR YUSUF.
As part of his visit to States, The Managing Director, Chief Executive Officer, Federal Housing Authority FHA continued his tour with a visit to the Northern States starting with Niger State, as he visited Governor Umar Bago.
The visit which started on Wednesday stressed the need for the state to key into the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and to also demand for land from the governor for affordable housing in line with the agenda.
The Managing Director who informed the governor on the need for consultation with state governors as custodian of land at the state level, and to also solicit for partnership, synergy in providing houses for their people , stating that state governors are in a better position to know types, designs and models of houses for their citizens.
According to Ojo , “We have come to seek partnerships and form synergy with the Niger State government in the area of Housing provision.Apart from asking for land to build houses, we need to interact for input to know type of houses your people need.”
Stressing the need for government to buy in, the FHA top shot noted that the state government is closer to the people, therefore in a better position to profile the off takers”
He opined, “You know the people, you will give their records for profiling as off takers “.
Continuing, “We have a scheme in FHA, and with your guarantee , they can pay us instrumentally.”
Ojo stated the decision that occasioned the consultation with the state government is to enable the end users driven policy and the need for them to take full charge and ownership of projects to be done for them. “We don’t intend to embark on a project that will be abandoned along the line, because it doesn’t meet the need of the people.”
While commending the governor for his giant strides in agriculture, he stated that the combination of agriculture and housing value chains will tremendously create both direct and indirect jobs for the citizens of the state through stimulation.
On the delivery method the Authority will adopt, Ojo promised to adopt diaspora city is one policy FHA has considered, owing to the need to provide for the diasporians and protect them from being defrauded.
He noted with digitisation process of land in FHA, the diasporians can transact from anywhere seamlessly and also monitor their transactions and investments .
He said the authority will embark on mass construction of one bedrooms , studio apartments to target the youths starting life.
He also spoke on the deliverance of ‘carcas’ where the exterior, electrical and plumbing works will be delivered and deployed, living the allotees to put finishing touches according to their taste, to reduce costs.
Responding, Niger State governor Umar Bago described the visit as timely, as the state will be needing houses to achieve it’s developmental strides in agro projects initiated by the state government, saying the state will be needing many houses , emphasising on the upcoming farm estates in the state which will require many houses to accommodate farmers, relocate citizens threatened by the over flow of kainji dam, resolving herders accomodation crises, and also those from agro processing zones, hence it has become pertinent to partner with FHA to provide needed houses.
Bago who promised to collaborate with FHA and will provide land in any part of the state at no cost .
In his words, Governor Bago stated, “We Will collaborate with you at no cost. Just provide your drawings, we will give you land anywhere you want.”
“Relevant authorities have been directed to work with you , it is high time we stop rhetorics. Let our legal team sign MOU” He concluded.