The Federal Mortgage Bank of Nigeria (FMBN), has inaugurated 100 Housing Units’ Estate for civil servants in Kogi
Speaking at the official inauguration on Thursday in Lokoja, Mr Lukman Mustapha, Executive Director, Loans and Mortgage Services of FMBN, commended the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC), Trade Union Congress (TUC) and the Nigerian Employers’ Consultative Association (NECA) for the collaborative efforts.
He noted that the project was funded by FMBN and developed in collaboration with the organized labour under the FMBN/NLC/NUC/NECA National Affordable Housing Delivery Program (NAHDEP) for Nigerian workers.
Mustapha said that the housing estate comprises 20 units of one-bedroom, 40 units of two-bedroom and 40 units three-bedroom semi-detached bungalows.
According to him, the estate is fully serviced with basic infrastructure , including electricity, internal road network with drainages, and water, to create a conducive and live able environment.
He added that the houses had also been designed to align with local peculiarities while keeping an eye on affordability.
”The commissioning of this project today as well as similar ceremonies across the federation, is a testimony they the FMBN is delivering on its mandate and needs unqualified support from all stakeholders.
”By this endeavour, we are not only reducing housing deficit in the country, we are also creating jobs and tackling unemployment.
”Our different categories of services are designed to ensure access to homeownership for Nigerians,” he said.
According to him, the FMBN remains the only institution offering affordable mortgages to Nigerians at less than 10 per cent through the products like the Individual NHF Loan, Individual construction loan, and the Rent-to-Own product.
”The repayment under this product is structured like monthly rent through which beneficiaries assumed ownership after the loan has been liquidated,” he said.
Mustapha commended the NLC, TUC and NECA for their commitment to the advancement of workers’ welfare, and their numerous sacrifices in perfecting the framework for the programme.
He thanked Gov. Yahaya Bello, for his “unquantifiable support” that had led to the successful delivery of the project.
The executive director commended the governor for not only donating the land for the project,but for also performing the ground -breaking ceremony to kick-start the development of the estate.
He, however, implored the governor to to provide a good access road to the estate as promised by the State Government during the ground-breaking ceremony.
In his remarks, the governor said the state government was excited about the housing project ,being the main employer of the beneficiaries.
Bello said one of the goals at inception of his administration was to improve the standard of living of Kogi workers.
He said access to affordable housing, where they could live and raise their families in a secure and functional environment was one his welfare programmes for workers
Bello, who was represented by the Secretary to the State Government, Mrs. Folashade Ayoade, said the vision of the housing project had been realised.
The governor commended FMBN and all the partners, who collaborated for the delivery of the housing project,saying the state was in need of more pf such project.
He appreciated President Muhammadu Buhari for the great initiative, describing it as a timely policy that would continue to live up to expectations.
Bello also commended the NLC, TUC, NECA, for the unity and great role they played in ensuring the project’s success as well as the harmonious industrial relationship and support from the labour union to the state government.
The governor assured the beneficiaries of adequate protection, while urging them to uphold the estate management’s rules and regulations and avoid harbouring criminal activities.
In their goodwill messages, the NLC and TUC Presidents, as well as the Director General of NECA; Mr Ayuba Waba; Mr Festus Osifo; and Mr Adewale Oyerinde, all commended the FMBN and Kogi government for the gesture.
Ayuba, who was represented by Mr Yahaya Ibrahim, NLC Vice President; and Osifo, represented by Mr Ahmed Tijani, Kogi TUC Chairman, expressed their happiness over the housing project.
Oyerinde, who was represented by Mr Mahmud Usman, expressed NECA’s readiness to always partner with stakeholders to ensure that Nigerian workers get affordable housing.
Some beneficiaries: Prof. Shuaibu Itila; Mr Kabiru Omeiza; Dr Ahmed Momohjimoh, expressed their deepest appreciation to FMBN, NLC, TUC, NECA, Kogi Government and other stakeholders for the initiative.
Itila, a lecturer at National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN), said it gladdened his heart as a public commentator, that there was still hope in the ‘Nigerian project’.
According to him, the application process for the housing units was seamless.
”This shows that there is still hope for common man in Nigeria,” Itila said.
