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FG to build 34, 500 houses across the country – Minister

The Minister of Housing and Urban Development, Ahmed Dangiwa has said the federal government is set to build 34,500 houses for low-income as well as high-income earners across the country.

He made this known during the ongoing 12th National Council of Lands, Housing and Urban Development meeting held in Kaduna on Thursday.

According to him, housing is one of the top priorities of the present administration under President Bola Tinubu, saying, “It was based on this premise that we don’t want to leave any stone unturned.

“For the avoidance of doubt, we are ready to rewrite the history of housing development in the country by the time the tenure of this present government expires.

The minister affirmed that the government is set to commence Phase 1 of the Renewed Hope Cities and Estates and Slum Upgrading Programme nationwide before the end of this year.

According to him, “in the Phase 1 of the project, we have targeted to deliver 34,500 housing units consisting of 1, 2 and 3-bedroom affordable multi-level flats and bungalows for low-income earners.

He also said, “the phase will consist construction of high-end detached bungalows, terraces and duplexes for high income earners in Thirty (30) States of the Federation including, Kano, Lagos, Rivers, Borno, Enugu, Nasarawa, and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

According to him, to ensure affordability for Nigerians, “we have already mapped out the following options. These include Rent-to-Own, Public Rental, Mortgage Loans, and where applicable, outright sale.

On the Slum upgrading programme, he said,the Ministry plans to upgrade a total of 26 slums in the Six (6) regions of the country, including the Federal Capital Territory.

“This project would ensure the provision of key infrastructure and ancillary services including access roads, water supply, solar streetlight, drainages, sanitation and waste management services etc.,

On the 28m housing deficit, the minister assured Nigerians, it will be a thing of the past as the present administration is ready to rewrite the history of housing development in the country .

“By the time the tenure of this present government expired, we will have provided enough houses to Nigerians. We have engaged the National Population Commission to help us get the accurate data of houses in the country, he declared.

Earlier, the Chairman Senate Committee on Housing, Senator Aminu Waziri Tambuwwal called for more funding of the sector in order to achieve the set objective.

To this end, he challenged the council to come up with ideas that are practicable and implementable, saying, the National Assembly is ready to support the federal government to achieve its housing policy.

Speaking on behalf of the two arms , the chairman House committee on Housing, Aminu Baba said the National Assembly policy on Housing is to ensure that every Nigerian can afford a house.

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