Minister of Housing and Urban Development, Arc. Ahmed Dangiwa has assured that ongoing action plans by the Federal Government would deliver considerable new houses and help in reducing housing deficit.
Dangiwa, who spoke as special guest at the annual general meeting (AGM) of the Real Estate Developers Association of Nigeria (REDAN) in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, said the Federal Government’s Renewed Hope Initiative (RHI) was targeted at increasing supply of affordable houses to low income earners.
According to him, the Renewed Hope Housing Scheme is aimed at reducing the housing deficit by increasing the supply of affordable housing to low income earners, currently being handled by the Federal Ministry of Housing.
He urged contractors to work towards timely completion of these projects with quality and standards as enshrined in the renewed hope housing programme.
Dangiwa, who was represented by the Federal Controller at the ministry, Engr. Edwin Gyenger, said: “Due to significant housing deficit in Nigeria, President Bola Tinubu, has initiated various programmes primarily aimed at addressing these deficit and also trying to sustain the development of urban areas”.
Akwa Ibom Governor, Pastor Umo Eno, said his administration has intervened in the housing sector with affordable housing scheme’s initiated under the ARISE Agenda blueprint of his government.
Eno, who was represented by the commissioner for Housing, Hon. Henry Archibong, said the housing scheme scattered across the three senatorial districts of Uyo, Ikot Ekpene and Eket, targeted low income earners and workers including those in the state aviation sector and the rural areas.
“You heard me mention the aviation village which is going to provide accommodation for the aviation workers and by the time that place is open, you will see a lot of development getting into that place and even though that place is the airport, it is still a rural community and so you will see that place open up.
“In the Base estate, the Governor has paid for 150 houses for low income civil servants and they have taken those houses, the Governor is also creating a medical corridor close to the specialist hospital and he is going to provide housing for the doctors.
“Also, recently, there has been the mass housing scheme that was developed by former Governor Akpabio in the three senatorial district, the present government is interested in doing more developments there.
“I had also suggested in our last meeting that the local government should also have housing scheme. The federal government also brought the renewed hope housing scheme to the State and we are keying into it. Also the governor has given me the mandate to source for developers, that is why am here today representing the Governor and to meet with the key stakeholders in the housing sector,” Eno said.
State Chairman of REDAN, Arc. Godwin James, made a case for serious government commitment to addressing the housing challenges through mass investment in the sector.
He explained that the choice of Uyo, for the event was borne out fact that “in the housing scheme of things, the whole South – South region and Akwa Ibom State in particular has been on the back sit for too long, not much is happening”.
“So we brought the annual general meeting (AGM) here to reposition us so we can take the centre stage, that is why we push for the AGM to be hosted here,” James explained.
Disclosing the benefits of REDAN in the housing sector, James described it as enormous, saying the organisation was working in collaboration with stakeholders and policy makers to ensure affordable housing for all
“REDAN is going to tap into the promises made by the government That is why we are here, REDAN, is an advocacy group that makes sure that everyone in the build environment across the real estate space is carried along. A lot of promises, have been made, ours is to follow up on the things the Housing commissioner has mentioned and make sure those promises come to pass especially now that the government has a lot of things in their hands and it requires a lot of pressure and for us to remind them about their roles.
“Majority of what the commissioner said is what will help push the real estate forward. He talked about ease of getting title, bringing infrastructure to even provide people who own estate to further reduce housing cost. The commissioner also said Redan will have a place called Redan city and will make land available for that, we are expecting them to keep to their words,” James said.
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