The Federal Government has disclosed that about 2,249 of the 4,694 housing units under construction have been completed across 34 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
This was even as he added that a total of 1,021 building contractors was engaged under phases 1 to 11 of the programme since its inception in 2016 while 13, 680 and 41, 040 direct and indirect jobs have been generated.
The Minister of Works and Housing, Babatunde Fashola made the disclosure at the 15th Abuja International Housing Show in Abuja.
He said this is coming despite the socio-economic consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic, adding that operations of the built industry have continued to make progress.
The Minister who was represented by the Minister of State for Works and Housing Engineer, Abubakar Aliyu, hinged his view on the activities of stakeholders in the sector such as the National Housing programme, (NHP) of the Federal government which is aimed at constructing acceptable and affordable houses nationwide
Fashola said:“Even as our country, as indeed the entire World is still grappling with the social-economic consequences of the COVID–19 pandemic, I have nothing but progress to report about how the built industry operatives, professionals and other stakeholders have contributed to increasing the stock of affordable and accessible homeownership in a pre and post–COVID era.”
In her goodwill message, the Minister of State for Works and Housing, Ghana, Freda Prempeh noted that the unprecedented negative economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic had resulted in a global economic recession which had greatly affected the urban poor and informal sector thereby worsening the housing problem globally.
She advised that social housing schemes must, as a matter of necessity, be given top priority by governments while boosting local production of building materials to generate employment.
The Chairman of the occasion, Surveyor Suleiman Hassan Zarma (MNIS), former Minister of State for Power, Works and Housing emphasized the need to provide affordable housing for the populace as a way of preventing the spread of COVID-19 which can occur when people are not adequately housed.
In his welcome address, the convener of the event, Barrister Festus Adebayo disclosed that the conference which has the theme “Sustainable and Resilient Housing Solution for a post-pandemic World” would explore different innovations and requirements that can effectively position housing as a tool in combating the epidemic on the single premise that the World has finally come to the realization of the importance of housing and the environment.
He further said that the conference would also consider the involvement of youths in designing the future of affordable housing as well as the matter of housing data for effective planning and delivery.
YOU SHOULD NOT MISS THESE HEADLINES FROM NIGERIAN TRIBUNE
Buhari Urges MTN For Quality Service, Downward Price Review In Cost Of Data, Other Services
President Muhammadu Buhari Friday at State House Abuja urged the MTN Group to make the available top-of-the-range service to its Nigerian subscribers… FG completes 2,249 housing units across 34 states, FCT ; FG completes 2,249 housing units across 34 states, FCT ; FG completes 2,249 housing units across 34 states, FCT ; FG completes 2,249 housing units across 34 states, FCT.