Affordable housing: FHA, traders plan to erect 5,000 units in Abuja

By Evelyn Okakwu

The Federal Housing Authority, in collaboration with the National Association of Nigerian Traders (NANT) have concluded plans to construct 5,000 housing units in Abuja to further alleviate the plight

of affordable accommodation seekers in the territory. Speaking at the formal lunching of the exercise, the FHA’s acting Managing Director, David Kpue, who was represented by the General Manager Public private partnership, (PPP) Hajara Kadiri, said the initiative was a laudable one which will go long way to check the accommodation challenges of the low and medium income earners in the Capital. He commended the association for coming up with the idea, adding that the authority had in recent times, had the pleasure of partnering with cooperate agencies for similar purpose.

He added that with the lunching, the partnership between the authority and the association has become a reality and that the FHA had been prepared for such a collaboration since 2007 when it adopted the

corporate housing model for accelerated housing delivery.

The FHA helms man called on Nigerians to take advantage of the model, especially at this time when access to affordable housing, keeps getting more difficult to reach.

Speaking further, he applauded the effort of the association at opening an account with the primary mortgage institution, the Federal Mortgage Bank, stressing that the authority would comply with laid

down guidelines in leasing out houses to prospective owners.

He added that the Authority had secured a site in Zuba, a suburb of the Federal Capital for the location of the housing units. “I would like to inform you that the location for the said housing Units will be in Zuba community, here in the FCT and work will commence as soon as we get the necessary approvals from the Federal Capital Development Authority (FCDA)”.

He assured that the FHA would stick to its commitment in the partnership agreement adding that the authority was poised at alleviating the plight of low and medium income earners, in the quest

for affordable housing.

He attributed the success recorded in the provision of affordable housing to the positive commitment of government towards same. According to him; “The approval of both the National Housing and

National Urban Development Policies, as well as the floating of the Nigerian Mortgage Refinance Company has led to the attainment of a sustainable mortgage culture in the country.

In his response, the chairman of the traders association, Prince Edozie Ugwu assured of his team’s satisfaction with the plans by the FHA adding that the association was confident that the houses would be

delivered in due time.

He enjoined members to support the program by paying their dues to facilitate the take of predetermined arrangements.