…Joins Makinde at groundbreaking ceremony of 250 units in Ibadan
By Adeyinka Adeniran
Minister of Housing and Urban Development, Musa Dangiwa has warned contractors handling the various projects under the Renewed Hope Housing project that under the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Tinubu, there is zero tolerance for uncompleted projects.
He said anyone who collect government money must deliver on the job given, adding that the developers must adhere to the timeline and finish within three months so that the government can begin the process of getting Oyo indigenes to purchase and move in.
He gave the warning on Tuesday in Ibadan, the Oyo state capital city during the groundbreaking ceremony of 250 Housing Estate under the Renewed Hope Housing project.
He was joined at the ceremony by Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde, Minister of State for Housing and Urban Development, Tijjani Gwarzo, traditional rulers, community leaders, residents at the 30 hectares site of the Estate, located across the Inland Dry Port, Erunmu, Egbeda local government area, Ibadan.
The project is part of a Nationwide Renewed Hope Cities and Estates Programme of the Ministry, which President Bola Tinubu officially launched earlier this year in Abuja, under which 50,000 housing unit is to be delivered in the first phase.
Speaking, Dangiwa said the ceremony is a continuation of the nationwide groundbreaking exercise for housing projects launched in February with the groundbreaking of a 3,112-housing unit in Karsana, Abuja.
He noted that under phase one of the programme, the plan is to deliver a total of 50,000 housing units across Nigeria which includes 7 Renewed Hope Cities that will have between 500 and 1,000 housing units per site in each of the six geopolitical zones in the country and the FCT, while the Renewed Hope Estates will have 250 units per site in the remaining 30 states.
He said funding the projects is from the N50billion 2023 supplementary budget that Mr. President approved for the Ministry to ensure sustainability, quality, and geographic spread.
Dangiwa said “With this housing programme, we plan to unlock the massive potential of housing development to create jobs, uplift lives, and boost economic development. This is in line with the Renewed Hope Agenda of Mr. President to stimulate inclusive growth, lift 100 million Nigerians out of poverty and build $1 trillion economy.
“As you may recall, last month, following the presidential launch of the programme in Abuja, we embarked on the first leg of this exercise with the groundbreaking of 1,500 housing units in the northern part of Nigeria. This includes 250-housing unit Renewed Hope Estates, one each in Katsina, Yobe, Gombe, and Sokoto, and a 500-housing unit Renewed Hope City in Kano.
“Work is currently ongoing at each of these sites, and our plan is to have all of them completed within the next couple of months and made available to Nigerians in line with Mr. President’s desire to provide quality housing for all Nigerians.
“Under the Renewed Hope Agenda, we are implementing a zero tolerance for uncompleted projects.
“Today’s groundbreaking in Oyo, marks the 8th under the second leg and the 13th location since the Presidential flag off in February with a total of 3,500 housing units. This estate comprises 50 units of 1-bedroom semi-detached bungalows, 150 units of 2-bedroom semi-detached bungalows, and 50 units of 3-bedroom semi-detached bungalows.
“We have designed these housing units in a way that makes them affordable for people to acquire by using organic designs to allow for future expansion as the income of beneficiaries increases. This means that a 1-bedroom unit can be expanded to 2 bedrooms, and a 2-bedroom unit can also be expanded to 3 bedrooms as the owner’s financial situation improves or their family grows.”
He charged the contractors including: Messrs Skyhawk Nig. Ltd, Messrs Plusvaz Nigeria Ltd, Messrs Blue Sea Investment Ltd and Messrs Harama Global Ltd to ensure that they build according to specifications.
“I want to emphasize in very strong terms that we will not tolerate substandard work from any developer, and we will explore all necessary legal means, to ensure that they deliver as per the contract. If you collect government money, you must do the work.
“We also want the developers to adhere to the timeline and finish within three months so that we can begin the process of getting Oyo indigenes to purchase and move in.”
He added that to ensure affordability, the government has created different options to enable residents who have the source of income and livelihood to own homes when they are completed.
The measure, he said include: “Single-digit mortgage loans that beneficiaries can repay over 30 years, rent-to-own schemes provided by the Federal Mortgage Bank of Nigeria, and outright purchase options for those who can afford to pay upfront.”
Corroborating, the Minister of State for Housing and Urban Development, Tijjani Gwarzo said the project which is to be delivered in three months, is to turn the country into a huge construction site, unlock the power of the housing sector to create jobs, boost economic development, and help achieve President Tinubu’s goal to build a $1 trillion economy.
He added that the 250-housing units Estate project will create job opportunities during the construction phase for masons, bricklayers, plumbers, electricians, traders, and suppliers of building materials.
In his remarks, Governor Makinde who was represented by the Commissioner for Lands, Housing and Urban Development, Mr Williams Akin-Funmilayo commended the FG for the Renewed Hope Housing Eatate, urging that consideration should be given to other geopolitical zones of the state for subsequent projects.
He pledged the full support of the state government to ensuring the success of the project in the state.
