FG: Over 10,000 Housing Units Ongoing in 14 Active Construction Sites Nationwide

*Says 252,800 jobs created from sector so far

Emmanuel Addeh in Abuja 

The federal government at the weekend disclosed that a total of 10,112 housing units are currently ongoing in 14 active construction sites nationwide.
Speaking at the 6th Africa Housing Awards and Industry End of Year Dinner in Abuja, the Minister of Housing and Urban Development, Mr Ahmed Dangiwa, explained that these include 12 Renewed Hope Estates, comprising 250 housing units each, across 12 states, with two states from each geo-political zone.
According to him, the cities are larger urban projects being developed in the Federal Capital Territory (3,112 units), Kano (2,000 units), and Lagos (2,000 units), with additional cities planned in Enugu, Borno, Rivers, and Nasarawa.
While appreciating the organisers of the awards, the Housing Africa Group, and  Festus Adebayo, for putting together the initiative, Dangiwa said recognising the efforts of players in the sector and encouraging them to do more was a great way to spur development.
“Through the Renewed Hope Cities and Estates Programme, we currently have 14 active construction sites nationwide, for a total of 10,112 housing units. We are currently constructing 12 Renewed Hope Estates, comprising 250 housing units each, across 12 states, with two states from each geo-political zone,” he added.
Dangiwa maintained that the housing sector’s potential as a driver of economic growth remains evident in the job opportunities that the  programme has created, noting that at an average of 25 jobs per house, the ongoing projects have directly and indirectly generated over 252,800 jobs for Nigerians, including skilled and unskilled workers.
In over just over a year, he stated that the ministry has adopted a range of creative and diversified funding strategies to create impact required, listing the commencement of reforms in land administration, social housing and building materials manufacturing, housing data and several other aspects of the housing and urban development value chain as some achievements.
Also speaking, the Chief Executive of the Federal Mortgage Bank of Nigeria (FMBN), Shehu Osidi, said that through strategic partnerships, innovative financing models, and stakeholder engagement, the bank was deepening access to affordable housing and supporting Nigerians to achieve their homeownership aspirations. 
“As part of these efforts, we have provided a N100 billion off-takers’ guarantee to facilitate the development of the Renewed Hope Cities and Estates across Nigeria, beginning from the Renewed Hope housing project in Karsana, Abuja. We are also introducing new products like Rent Assistance, Non-interest Mortgage and Diaspora NHF Mortgage amongst others,” he said .
He also thanked Adebayo and the Housing Development Advocacy Network (HDAN), for being steadfast and invaluable partners to the FMBN and their commitment to promoting sustainable housing development.
success.
In his remarks, former Minister of Mines and Solid Minerals and Chairman of the occasion,  Musa Sada, noted that housing for some people is a human right and as such is something that needs to have all the attention that it deserves. 
He stated that one area that should witness  discussions and generate ideas on how to move forward is the one that has to do with building materials development, noting that this remains crucial to moving the sector forward. 
“For us as professionals, design innovation is very important. We don’t just design beautiful houses, we have to design affordable houses and we can only do it by sharing ideas by cross-referencing ourselves as professionals and seeing what we can do. 
“For the contractors that build for us, construction techniques are also very important. We need to start discussions on producing houses, not building them. How do we produce houses just like any other product that we put out in the market? These are areas of discussion that I think an avenue like this can afford us and can generate ideas for us to be able to use. 
“And for the regulators of the sector, the government, we have to start looking at the issues of very strong policies and regulations. The policies need to be made stronger. We need to come up with regulations that will give us the pleasure and the comfort to be able to operate in the sector,” he argued.
Responding to questions on the sidelines of the programme, Executive Director of HDAN, Adebayo, called for restraint in the ongoing demolitions taking place in the FCT.
Stressing that a lot of positive developments were ongoing in the housing sector currently, he pointed out however that one of the constraints is the economic situation.
“The cost of cement is now N9,500. How are we going to be talking of affordable housing under this kind of situation? The only way is for the government to come up with an enabling environment.  We are talking of new tax reforms. We should put it inside that if you build social housing, low-cost housing, you will be excluded from paying so and so tax. 
“The houses we are seeing are not the houses we need. The houses we are seeing are for those people who already have one or two. So, we are using this affordable housing hall of fame to call on the president to look into what we can do to help the poor workers,” he said