Governor Alex Otti of Abia State has said that his administration aligns with the Federal Government’s plans aimed at increasing affordable housing opportunities for citizens to address the housing deficit in the country.
Governor Otti stated this when he received in audience, the Managing Director of the Federal Housing Authority (FHA), Mr. Oyetunde Ojo, who paid him a visit in Nvosi, Isiala Ngwa South Local Government Area.
The Governor expressed gratitude to President Bola Tinubu for prioritizing the provision of shelter for Nigerians, especially those in the diaspora.
He outlined plans to initiate housing schemes aimed at offering affordable housing solutions, particularly for Abia residents abroad.
The Governor revealed that his government has secured land for a housing project tagged “Diaspora Village”, which he said aligns with the agency’s vision of providing affordable housing across the nation.
“Our agenda for evolving the ‘Diaspora Village’ project and provision of affordable housing aligns perfectly with the vision of the federal government.
“We will be setting up the structure for them and a system that would allow them to pay on installments to own a house in the Diaspora Village.
“We are very much open to partnering with the federal government on increasing affordable housing for the citizens“,Otti said.
He emphasized the state’s commitment to facilitating payment plans that enable individuals to own homes in the Diaspora Village through installments.
“I can assure that you won’t be short of off-takers, because the state government will show sufficient interest by off-taking the house and deal with it locally”, Otti assured.
Governor Otti while acknowledging the Agency’s efforts to involve both the government and the people of Abia in the housing initiatives, commended their decision to engage local contractors for the project execution, which he described as a total departure from past practices that often led to political favoritism.
Earlier, the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, Federal Housing Authority,
Mr. Oyetunde Ojo reiterated the Agency’s determination to provide affordable housing solutions nationwide.
Ojo, emphasized the importance of involving states in the project development and ensuring housing designs align with cultural and societal needs.
He highlighted the agency’s focus on digitalization and the creation of ‘a City in a City’ concept to cater to the housing needs of Nigerians in diaspora, aiming to eradicate experiences of fraud and land disputes commonly encountered in housing transactions.
“It is believed that this would end the bitter experience of people in diaspora being duped in their quest to build a house in Nigeria.
“We want to synergise with Diaspora Commission, Tourism and Abia Government to execute this project, so that people outside can buy this property
“We are going on digitalisation whereby when Abia people abroad buy a property in their state from their phone.
“This would afford them opportunity to say ‘this is my land, this is my property’, and easily check with the Ministry of Housing in Abia State, Ministry of Lands and simultaneously check with Federal Housing Authority and Diaspora Commission,”Ojo said.
