By Angela Atabo
The Managing Director and Chief Executive of Federal Housing Authority Oyetunde Ojo,has pledged to deliver accessible housing to Nigerians as he began the Northern states’ tour.
Ojo who visited the Governor of Niger State, Umar Bago,said in a statement that the visit was to bring the Renewed Hope Agenda message of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu (GCFR) to the people .
He added that the visit was to also demand for land from the governor.
Yhe MD informed the Governor Bago that the new FHA management has thought it worthy to consult with the governors ,the custodians of land in their states for synergy.
“The partnership is in the quest to provid houses for their people, since the states are in a better place to know what type of houses and designs their people need.
“We have come to seek for partnership and form synergy with Niger state in Housing provision.
” Apart from asking for land to build houses, we need to interact with you for input on the kind of houses your people need.”
Ojo said the aim was to have the state Government’s buy – in, because the government is closer to the people and are in a better profile as Off takers.
” you know the people, gave their records and data and can profile them as off takers, we have an FHA scheme, and with your guarantee they can pay installmentally,”he said
Ojo also noted that the Management’s decsion to embark on consultation with the various state governments was a result of the End User driven policy it has adopted on the need for the people to take ownership of projects to be done for them.
He added that FHA did not intend to do a project that would be abandoned because it did not meet the need of the people
He commended Bago for the giant strides he is taking in agriculture, adding that the combination of farming and housing value chains would tremendously stimulate the economy of the state through the creation of direct and indirect jobs.
Ojo said that FHA would adopt the Diaspora City delivery method it had considered owing to the need to provide for the diasporians and to protect them from being defrauded.
He said that with the digitalisation of FHA , transacting with the diasporians would be seamless because they would be able to transact safely from any where as well as monitor their investments.
Ojo said that FHA would be constrcting one bedrooms and studio apartments to target youths starting life.
He also said ‘carcas’ would be deployed, where the exterior, plumbing and electrical would be delivered, leaving the allottees to do the finishing to individual taste, to reduce cost.
In response, Ojo daid that the Governor of Niger State said that the visit was timely due to the many developmental agro projects initiated by the state’s government.
Bago said that with that project ,there would be need for many houses ,and a farming estate would spring up in the state which would require many houses to shelter the farmers.
He said that the housing project would aid the relocation of citizens being threatened by the over flow of the water from Kainji dam, settling of the herders and accommodation for the workers in the up agro processing zone in the state.
“It has become pertinent to partner with Federal Housing Authority to provide the needed houses,” he said .
The governor consequently pledged to collaborate with FHA to provide land at no cost in any part of the state it wants.
“We will collaborate with FHA at no cost. Just provide your drawings. We will give you land at any where you want.
“Relevant authorities have been directed to work with you. It is high time we stop rhetoric. Let our legal teams sign an MOU.”(NAN)
