The Minister of Housing and Urban Development, Ahmed Dangiwa on Thursday tasked developers of Renewed Hope Estate in Abia to ensure completion of the 250-housing Unit Renewed Hope Estate project within three months.
The charge came to the developers, Messrs Camp David Global Synergy Ltd, and Messrs Finuch Investment Ltd during the groundbreaking ceremony of the housing units under the flagship of President Bola Tinubu in the Umuoche community in Bende Local Government Area of the state while urging them also to ensure that they build according to specifications.
While describing the ceremony as a continuation of the nationwide groundbreaking exercise for housing projects under the Renewed Hope Cities and Estates Programme of the Federal Ministry of Housing and Urban Development, which President Tinubu launched in February with the commissioning of a 3,112-housing unit in Karsana, Abuja, the minister, who performed the ceremony on behalf of the President warned the developers to be committed to delivering quality work based on contractual terms to ensure durability, stating that he will not tolerate substandard work.
Dangiwa said, “We have created different options to enable everyone who has a source of income and livelihood to own these homes when they are completed. These include single-digit mortgage loans that beneficiaries can repay over 30 years, rent-to-own schemes provided by the Federal Mortgage Bank of Nigeria, and outright purchase options for those who can afford to pay upfront.
“Statistics show that the construction of one housing unit creates an average of 25 direct and indirect jobs. So, for these 250 housing units, we hope to create jobs for over 6,500 people in various trades, from professionals like architects, civil engineers, and mechanical engineers to masons, plumbers, tilers, and electricians.
“This is in addition to the economic activities, including those selling food, supplying blocks, and providing building materials,” the minister stated.
He added that the value chain effect of construction work on this site is significant and creates a positive economic impact.
“I want to state that under the Renewed Hope Agenda of His Excellency, President Bola Tinubu, we at the Federal Ministry of Housing and Urban Development are very particular about giving Nigerians value for money.
“We are diligently funding these projects from the N50 billion 2023 Supplementary Budget that Mr President approved for the Ministry to ensure sustainability, quality, and geographic spread.
“I want to assure states that have not been covered under the 2023 Supplementary Budget will be included in the Ministry’s 2024 Budget on the condition that they provide land at no cost to enhance affordability,” Dangiwa averred.
He commended the Abia state governor, Alex Otti, for promptly granting the request for the provision of land at no cost, stating that this singular action has helped to reduce as much as 30 per cent of the cost of the units in the estate for the benefit of potential homeowners.
According to him, the ceremony is a continuation of the nationwide groundbreaking exercises for housing projects under the Renewed Hope Cities and Estates Programme of the Federal Ministry of Housing and Urban Development, stating that under phase one of the programme, the Federal Government planned to deliver a total of 50,000 housing units across the country.
“This includes 7 Renewed Hope Cities that will have between 500 and 1,000 housing units per site in each of the six geopolitical zones in the country and the FCT, while the estates will have 250 units per site in the remaining thirty (30) states.
”With this housing programme, we plan to unlock the massive potential of housing development to create jobs, uplift lives, and boost economic development,” he said.
He pointed out that the initial preparatory work for the construction of the Federal Secretariat at Ekeoba, Ohuhu clan in Umuahia North L.G.A, is ongoing, adding that the actual construction work will begin soonest at the site.
In his speech, the Minister of State for Housing and Urban Development, Alhaji Tijjani Gwarzo represented by the Director Engineering Services, Nwofo Samuel, stated that the broad aim of the federal government through the Renewed Hope Estate was to turn the country into a huge construction site, unlock the power of the housing sector to create jobs, boost economic development, and help achieve President Tinubu’s goal to build a one trillion dollars economy.
Speaking also, the state governor, Otti who expressed his excitement over the project, said the state policy on housing was in agreement with that of the FG for the country.
“We thank President Bola Tinubu for this laudable project. This project will create jobs for Abians and keep our youths busy.
Otti, who was represented by his Deputy, Ikechukwu Emetu, said, “We are trying our best to create the ease of doing business in Abia State. We will assure you as a government that everybody working on this very project, that the security that you need in making sure that this very project is delivered and our people take possession of this, will be guaranteed.”
Speaking on behalf of the Bende community, the Ohuga IV of Bende, Eze Anthony Chukwu expressed his delight that the project will stimulate the economy of the area.