President Muhammadu Buhari on Thursday commissioned 76 housing units under the first phase of the National Housing Scheme in Dutse, the Jigawa State capital.
The project is under the National Housing Programme (NHP) of the Federal Ministry of Works and Housing being embarked upon throughout the federation.
The housing units consist of 4 units of 1-bedroom bungalows; 24 units of 3-bedroom bungalows and 48 units of 2-bedroom bungalows, all of which were awarded in November 2016 at the contract sum of N727.4 million.
The infrastructure contracts for the project were awarded in May 2017 at a total cost of N463.6 million. Roads, drainage and asphalt finishing gulped N 294.3 million. Electricity supply and installation of 500 KVA transformers gulped N82.9 million and motorised borehole gulped N86.3 million.
Buhari, represented by the Minister of Water Resources, Suleiman Adamu, described the construction of the housing units in the 35 states of the federation as a good example of some of the developmental possibilities that inter-governmental collaboration could produce.
He maintained that the commissioning of the project was in response to Nigerians who aspired to own a home, saying he was optimistic that with the provision of more land, the federal government could do more.
The permanent secretary of the ministry, Dr Bashir Nura Alkali, disclosed that the ministry had successfully constructed housing schemes under the programme in 35 states, except Lagos.
Represented by the North West Zonal Coordinator, Emmanuel Hangeior, Alkali said the philosophy behind the NHP was the provision of a pilot scheme that is affordable, accessible and acceptable as contained in the National Housing Policy.
