Renewed hope housing: Governor Sule makes case for graduates of vocational, technical institute to be employed

…accessibility, free land cuts cost per unit by 30 percent in Nasarawa-Housing Minister

Governor Abdullahi Sule of Nasarawa State has appealed to contractors handling the construction of the 250 housing units under the Federal Government’s Renewed Hope Cities and Estate programme in Shabu, to employ graduates of the Wing Commander Abdullahi Ibrahim Vocational and Technical Institute Lafia.

Governor Sule made the case in his address during the groundbreaking for the construction of 250 housing units by the Federal Ministry of Housing and Urban Development in Shabu, Lafia Local Government Area on Saturday.

According to the Governor, His administration has since inception committed itself to providing technical and vocational skills in various fields for the indigenes of the state, stressing that employing them on the site of the construction would afford them the opportunity to practice what they must have learned.

While expressing joy that the construction work would provide jobs for 6500 skilled and unskilled labour, he said the contractors would even it find it cheaper recruiting graduates of the technical and vocational institute because most of them reside in Lafia.

Governor Sule also called on the trainees to avail themselves the opportunity by going to the construction site to be employed.

“This is a big jump for us. Since our inception we have committed to providing technical and vocational institute were people are being trained in all the areas that you mentioned. Iron bending, wielding, fabrication, electrical installation, motor mechanics, agricultural mechanization, air-conditioning and refrigeration and ICT.

“I’m calling on the trainees to come to this site and get the opportunity to practice what they have learned. I urge our contractors to assist us by employing some of these people because they are going to be cheaper for you to engage since they are closer here, and live here,” he stated.

He commended President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the Federal Government for conceiving the initiative for the construction of 5000 units across the 13 states of the Federation under the Renewed Hope Cities and Estate programme.

“I also wish to commend the honourable ministers for selecting Nasarawa State as one of the pilot states to benefit from this initiative aimed at alleviating the sufferings of the public servants who have to contend with increasing house rents vis-a-vis their take home salary,” he said.

He used the opportunity of the event to reiterate the commitment of his administration to providing affordable and comfortable accommodation to civil servants in the state, recalling that only recently, the state government approved the allocation and issued letters to deserving civil servants occupying government quarters within Lafia on owner-occupier basis.

Governor Sule assured the Federal Government of the continued support of his administration towards the successful execution of the renewed hope housing scheme in Nasarawa State.

On the reduction in cost by 30 percent as a result of the accessibility of the site, he showed appreciation to his predecessor, Senator Umaru Tanko Al-makura for his foresight in acquiring the land and for making it available to the government for use.

“The Honourable Minister made me even more excited by saying that since the cost of construction is less, the cost of also selling the property is also going to be less. This site was acquired by my predecessor, Senator Tanko Al-makura. At the time he got it lots of people wondered what he was doing acquring a bush. Thank you for your foresight and for your vision,” he added.

This is just at the Minister of Housing and Urban Development, Arc. Ahmed Musa Dangiwa, thanked Governor Sule for promptly providing free land and the most accessible location for the 250 units housing project.

“This singular action has helped us to reduce as much as 30 percent of the cost of units in this estate for the benefit of potential home owners. This is a dividends of responsible governance and I applaud Your Excellency for this,” the Minister said.

He disclosed that under the phase one of the Renewed Hope Cities and Estate programme, his ministry planned to deliver a total of 50, 000 housing units across Nigeria, including the seven renewed hope cities that will have between 501 housing units per site in each of the six geopolitical zones in the country and the FCT.

Arc Dangiwa while flagging off the construction of the 250 units under the Renewed Hope Cities and Estate programme of the Federal Government, said project comprise of 50 units of one-bedroom semi detached bungalows, 150 2-beddroom semi detached bungalows and 50 units of 3-bedroom semi detached bungalows.

He warned contractors handling the project that his ministry would not tolerate substandard work, charging them 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 of the developer. 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,” he said.

The minister further called on the developers to adhere to the timeline and finish within three months so that the ministry can begin to give them to Nasarawa indigenes to purchase and move in.

He highlighted on the efforts by the Ministry to make the houses affordable for the intended beneficiaries.

“To ensure affordability, we have created different options to enable everyone who has a source of income and livelihoods to own these homes when they are completed. This includes single digit mortgage loans, and the beneficiaries can pay over 30 years. Rent on skills provided by the Federal Mortgage Bank of Nigeria to which the MD/CEO has confirmed to you. And any outright purchase options or installment payment for those who can afford to pay upfront,” he added.

Arc Dangiwa explained that for the 350 units in Nasarawa State, the project hopes to create jobs for over 6500 people in various trades for professionals such as architects, quantity surveyors, civil, mechanical and electrical engineers to masons, plumbers, tilers, electricians, laborers, iron benders.

“We have seen that an unskilled worker at the project sites earns 35, 000 naira per week at an average of 5 thousand naira per day. This amounts to about 140, 000 naira per month which is more than even the minimum wage. This in addition to other economic activities including foodstuff, supplying blocks and providing building materials,” he said.

The Minister appreciated President Tinubu for the political will to embark on the project and for making available N50bn out of the N100bn earmarked in the 2023 supplementary budget for delivering 50, 000 housing units across the country under the phase one of the Renewed Hope Cities and Estate programme.

For Shehu Usman Osidi, MD/CEO of the Federal Mortgage Bank of Nigeria, the bank have provided a one billion naira off-takers guarantees for the development and construction of 3112 housing units, which is part of a global plan to deliver 100, 000 housing units across the country.

Osidi disclosed that in Nasarawa State, the FMBN has financed 11 housing projects in various parts of the state most of which have been completed and delivered.

“We have also disbursed 7.5bn under our home renovation loans to 8583 indigenes of Nasarawa State while 105 FHA beneficiaries recently emerged as home owners under our rent-to-own scheme,” he said.

Speaking on behalf of the developers handling the project, Danmallam Saleh, the Minister of their commitment to ensuring that the renewed hope estates meets the highest quality of standards and design.

He further assured that their team is dedicated to completing this project within a stipulated time frame of 3 months, adhering strictly to all specifications provided.