FG Proposes 77,400 Free Mass Houses in 774 LGAs

Deji Elumoye in Abuja

The Federal Government has hinted of its plan to fund delivery of 100 housing units to the poor in each of the nation’s 774 local governments through voluntary donations from no fewer than 10  per cent of the population.

The housing units are to be delivered under the proposed National Social Housing Fund currently being worked out by the Ministry of Housing and Urban Development.

Briefing newsmen at the State House, Abuja, Minister of Housing and Urban Development,  Musa Dangiwa, said the ministry had written to all stakeholders in government on how they intended to raise fund for the project.

“There is one option that we want to ensure that all, at least 10% of Nigeria’s population, should make a voluntary contribution of N5000 monthly, for one year, we are going to have N1.2 trillion.

“Ten per cent of total of population of Nigerians is almost 20 million. I’m sure one can give that N60,000 even at a go, not to even divide it into 12 months, 5000 times 12 is 60,000. That contribution will be meant for the low income bracket.

“We have provided houses in the cities under the Renewed Hope Cities, we have provided houses in the states, over 30 states, which is the Renewed Hope Estates.

“We want to provide houses to the local governments. In the local government, we want to identify the most vulnerable group of 100 Nigerians in each state of the federation, those are the groups we want to target and give them a house, at least two or three bedroom houses, free by the federal government, for them to live in.
“This is the contribution you need to make. If 10% of Nigerians, like 22 million, if you can contribute N5000 monthly, that’s N60,000, we are going to have nothing less than N1.2 trillion. N1.2 trillion can build 100,000 houses. We just need 77,400 houses for 100 house in 774 local government.

“So the houses could be N10 million house in 774 local government, you can get it because N10 million times 77,400 is 774 billion, which is still less than the N1 trillion that we are thinking of.

“So this is one of the concepts that this current administration has come up with, and we are doing it. That’s why we have to get the buy-in of everybody to ensure that we take it to the National Assembly, and once it is approved, it’s going to be done.”