In a bid to boost housing development in Nigeria, the Federal Mortgage Bank in collaboration with the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Trade Union Congress(TUC) and the Nigeria Employers Consultative Association (NUCA) has commenced the implementation of National Affordable Housing Delivery Programme for Abia workers who are contributors of the National Housing Fund(NHF).
Speaking while performing the ground breaking ceremony at Ngwu Ubani Ibeku, Umuahia North LGA,
Governor Okezie assured the federal government that his administration is committed to the project and will provide the ambiance and support needed to ensure that the National Affordable Housing Project in Abia is completed in record time.
He said the initiative must be made affordable to the Nigeria workers to provide an opportunity for the workers to own a house of their own.
Ikpeazu promised to provide alternative routes to the location to make it accessible with the onset of the dry season.
The Governor commended the federal government for its intervention in the housing scheme across Nigeria as well as choosing Abia as one of the two states in the southeast as anchor states of the scheme.
Ahmed Dangiwa, Managing Director, Federal Mortgage Bank said the programme is designed to provide 1400 housing units across the six geo political zones with each state having 100 units adding that the programme is designed to be implemented in phases.
He noted that Abia is one of the two states chosen in the southeast as anchor states of the scheme due to its commitment to the National Housing Fund and applauded Governor Ikpeazu for sustaining the workers’ participation in the NHF.
Dangiwa, disclosed that once the houses are built, FMBN will provide mortgage loans through selected Primary Mortgage Banks(PMBs)to Nigerian workers who are contributing to the NHF to enable them purchase the houses and repay over a minimum period of 30 years.
In his remarks, the state chairman, Joint Public Service Negotation Council(JPSNC) Comrade Chris Okoro described the program as a manifestation of the commitment of governor Okezie Ikpeazu to the NHF scheme and appealled that efforts be made to remove all hitches to enable Abia workers move into the already completed CEDAR estate along Bende Road Umuahia.
