Reps task FG on sale of 4000 houses under National Housing Programme

The House of Representatives on Tuesday called on the Federal Ministry of Works and Housing to commence the process for the sale of about 4000 houses constructed under the National Housing Programme (NHP).

The resolution was passed sequel to the adoption of a motion sponsored by Hon. Mansur Soro.

In his lead debate, Hon. Soro urged authorities of the Federal Ministry of Works and Housing to dispose of houses constructed under the National Housing Programme.

“The House notes that since 2015, Nigeria has been contending with over 15 million housing deficit, which requires about 150,000 houses to be built yearly to bridge the gap.

“The House recalls that the National Housing Programme (Phase I) was launched in January 2016, with the construction of 2,500 units of houses in the 36 States and the Phase II of the Programme was launched in 2018.

“The House is aware of the investigation by the Guardian newspaper which revealed that the Federal Ministry of Works and Housing received N66 billion in 2016, N41 billion in 2017, N26.7 billion in 2018, N34 billion in 2019 and N60.8 billion in 2020 budgets, respectively totalling N26 billion for the National Housing Programme.

“The House is also aware that nearly 4,000 houses have been completed and have remained unoccupied and if not disposed-off to interested and deserving Nigerians, they may begin to wear out, a development that will not address the housing deficits in Nigeria.”

The House, therefore, called on the Federal Ministry of Works and Housing to earnestly begin the process of disposing the completed houses to the most deserving Nigerians.

To this end, the House mandated its joint committees on Housing and Habitat to ascertain the true value of the houses before disposing of them.

Also at plenary, the House tasked the Federal Ministry of Works and Housing to take all the necessary actions to complete the Zaria–Pambegua road rehabilitation which was awarded at the contract sum of N10.1 billion to the Proportion Construction and Dredge Works Limited by the Federal Ministry of Works and Housing since May 2017.

The resolution was passed sequel to the adoption of a motion sponsored by Hon. Hamisu Ibrahim, who underscored the importance of the road transportation system in Nigeria which contributes to the growth and economic development of the nation and its social benefits and the saving many lives if properly maintained.

In his lead debate, Hon. Ibrahim observed that the Zaria–Pambegua road rehabilitation was awarded at the contract sum of N10.1 billion to the Proportion Construction and Dredge Works Limited by the Federal Ministry of Works and Housing in May 2017 with a completion date of February 2019.

“The House is aware that the Zaria–Pambegua road, an 88.4 km road, transverses several towns, villages and farmlands within the five Local Government Areas of Zaria, Soba, Kubau, Kauru and Lere respectively, whose residents are predominantly farmers who contribute 75% of Maize production in Kaduna State.

“The House is also aware of reports which showed that the contractor handling the road construction covered only 13% of the work as a result of unnecessary delay and lack of capacity to handle the project.

“The House is worried about the deteriorating state of the road due to continuous delay in completing the road and dangerous potholes on the road which shows incapability on the part of the construction company.

“The House is cognizant that the poor state of Zaria to Pambegua road which has led to the loss of lives and properties, as it has become a death trap,” he noted.

To this end, the House mandated its Committee on Works to ensure compliance.

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