From: Chidi Nnadi, Enugu

The Federal Government, on Tuesday, promised to close the gap in the deficit of housing units in the country estimated to be over 17 million.

To achieve that, Minister of Power, Works and Housing, Babatunde Fashola, who made this promise at the commissioning of Vyvian Estate in Enugu State, said that the government was giving priority attention to providing affordable houses for all Nigerians.

According to him, his ministry has plans to build several housing units in every state for public servants over the next three years under a public-private arrangement that has reached an advanced stage of implementation.

Fashola who was represented at the event by the Minister of State in his ministry, Hon. Mustapha Shehuri, said that already national housing models have been designed for each of the geo-political zones, “taking into consideration our cultural and climatic diversities in our choices of houses, adherence to standardization and the affordability of housing for Nigerians and most importantly create employment opportunities for our teeming youths currently in the labour market.”

The minister noted that the 125 Vyvian housing units commissioned are equipped with basic amenities required for decent living, commending the Federal Mortgage Bank of Nigeria (FMBN) for providing the finance for the execution of the project.

Earlier, the acting Managing Director of FMBN, Mr Richard Esin disclosed that his bank has funded seven housing estates in Enugu State to the tune of N2.3 billion for the development of 952 housing units, most of which have been completed.

Esin said that the actualization of the Vyvian Estate was an affirmation of the tangible achievements of the Federal Government in the provision of affordable housing for all Nigerians.

“The construction loan advanced by the bank to Messrs LCK Projects Ltd has delivered 125 housing units: 48 units of three-bedroom fully detached bungalows; 48 units of three-bedroom semi-detached bungalows; and 28 units of three-bedroom detached bungalows with space for boys’ quarters,” he said.

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Also speaking, Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi of Enugu State said that the event marked another milestone in the efforts of the Federal Government through the relevant ministry and agencies to provide affordable housing to Nigerians, saying that his people are privileged to have the project located in Enugu.

“We, therefore, commend the government for the progress that it has so far made in the housing sector since the inception of the current administration.

“Of particular note, is the recent approval by the Ministry of Power, Works and Housing for National Housing Funds loans of N5 million and below to attract 100 per cent funding and the cost of mortgage perfection to be capitalized and repaid gradually over a period of five years. This without doubt, will enhance the ability and capacity of low income earners particularly civil servants in the country, to own their homes without much stress,” he said.

Ugwuanyi commended the Federal Mortgage Bank of Nigeria and LCK-Vyvian for the successful completion and delivery of the project.

“We are indeed grateful to the bank for the various initiatives and projects that it has funded and continues to fund in Enugu State. I must also thank the people of Ibagwa-Nike for their wonderful support and cooperation towards the realization of this venture.

“It has to be said that these projects have come as necessary and helpful complements to the determined efforts of the Enugu State government to address the housing needs of our people especially through the creation of new housing estates and the provision of essential infrastructure and amenities to existing ones.

“The government has also continued to encourage private sector participation in housing development in the state through the provision of land and other important incentives and we are proud to say that this has been yielding the desired dividends,” he said.

In his speech, the Managing Director of LCK Projects Limited, the developer of Vyvian Estate, thanked the FMBN and Enugu State government for the roles they played to make the project a reality.