Kogi Commences Implementation of 1,000 Renewed Hope Housing Estate Project

Ibrahim Oyewale in Lokoja

The Kogi State Governor, Mr. Usman Ododo, has directed the immediate commencement of work at the proposed 1000 units housing estate under the Renewed Hope Housing Project (RHHP) in the state.

Governor Ododo disclosed this while playing host to the management of the Federal Housing Authority (FHA) led by the Managing Director of FHA, Honourable Ayotunde Ojo, on a working visit to Lokoja the state capital on Wednesday.

He noted that the meeting was aimed at finalising preparations for the implementation of the RHHP in the state, which is a demonstration of his administration’s resolve to key into the Renewed Hope Agenda (RHA) of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

The governor described the meeting with the management of the FHA as timely in view of the determination of his administration to ensure that Kogi State would enjoy its fair share of the efforts by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to address the housing deficit in Nigeria with the RHHP.

While commending previous efforts made by the state government to address housing deficit in the state, Governor Ododo noted that Kogi State is critical to the actualisation of federal government’s policy to provide affordable housing for the Nigerian populace under the RHA in view of the strategic location of the state.

“As a state that borders nine other states and the FCT, our population growth and the effect of urbanisation and migration to the state from neighbouring states and the FCT for social and economic reasons has significantly impacted housing needs in Kogi State.

“It will be the most strategic choice for the FHA through the RHHP of Mr. President to consider Kogi State as a prime location for the Renewed Hope City.

“Kogi State is hereby allocating 100 hectares of land to the FHA to commence the building of the Renewed Hope City (RHC) with full compensation paid by the government,” Ododo said.

The governor commended President Tinubu for finding Kogi State worthy of consideration for the RHHP, stressing that the construction of the RHC in Kogi State is in line with his campaign promise to make the state open for business and by expanding housing development beyond the 16 kilometer radius of the state capital master plan.

He assured the FHA of all the support required to ensure successful implementation of the RHC in the state.

In his welcome remarks, the Kogi State Commissioner for Housing and Urban Development, Honourable Taiye Abanika, said that the working visit by the management of the FHA would serve as an impetus for the state to key into the RHHP, which is aimed at enhancing access to affordable housing by all Nigerian,s particularly the people of Kogi State.

In his remarks, the Managing Director of the FHA, Honourable Ayotunde Ojo, described his visit to Kogi State as a home coming due to his ancestral connection with the state capital.

Ojo commended Ododo for according priorities to the welfare of workers and ensuring security of lives and property in the state.

He assured that the organisation would mobilise resources to commence the construction of the RHC in the state as soon as possible.

The RHC would be located on 100 hectares of land off the Lokoja-Okene Road in Zariagi.