FCT accounts for 10% of 17m housing deficit in Nigeria — Bala Mohammed

Minister of the Federal Capital Territory Administration, FCTA, Senator Bala Mohammed disclosed at the weekend that the FCT accounts for 10 per cent of the 17 million housing deficit in Nigeria. The minister disclosed this while commissioning a 49-unit luxury apartments christened “AICL Apo- Dutse Housing Estate”.

According to him: “From statistics, the housing deficit in Nigeria is about 17 million and 10 per cent of it is in the FCT. This, of course, is due to the peculiar demographic nature of the territory, resulting from the mass influx into the capital city”.

Commissioning the housing estate, Senator Mohammed disclosed that the housing deficit in the FCT is due to its peculiar demographic status resulting from the mass influx into the capital city. He added that the estate was constructed at the cost of N3 billion within a period of two years.

The Minister disclosed that from 2010 to date, his administration has allocated a total of 136 mass housing plots to developers comprising property development companies, cooperatives societies and associations.

Represented by the Permanent Secretary, John Obinna Chukwu, an engineer, the FCTA Minister who explained that the FCT Administration through the Abuja Investment Company Limited, AICL, embarked on these houses to tackle housing deficit in the Territory in consonance with the Transformation Agenda of the Federal Government.

He said: “I am glad to recall that two years ago, I had personally encouraged Abuja Investment to embark on the AICL Apo-Dutse Housing Estate and to deliver on record time. So, this is heart warming that the dream project has become a reality.

“The delivery of these houses clearly demonstrates the commitment of the FCT Administration to meeting the challenge of housing confronting the residents of the Territory, which is part of our comprehensive efforts to deliver the dividends of the Transformation Agenda of President Goodluck Jonathan”.

The Minister who noted that he personally encouraged the Managing Director of AICL two years ago to embark on the project, said, “I therefore commend the management of Abuja Investment Company Limited, AICL, for living up to my expectation and justifying the confidence the FCTA posed on them.”

According to him, the company is presently collaborating with the private sector in the area of city mass transportation services, Abuja millennium tower project and other projects, adding, “I have no doubt in me that this housing project demonstrates the commitment of the FCTA in meeting the challenges of housing confronting the FCT residents.

“To bridge this gap, the administration has embarked on a number of policies such as the Land Swap initiatives, affordable housing and mass housing schemes. This year it has awarded contracts for the provision of infrastructure in 10 new districts, Jahi, Kagini, maitama extension, wuye, Mbora, Guzape 1 and 2, Wasa and Katampe . From 2010 till date a total of 136 developers, cooperative societies have benefited from mass housing lands.

“We will also perform the ground breaking of the Guzape shopping mall. We urge the contractor to make sure the project is delivered on time”, he said.

The minister also carried out a ground breaking ceremony of AICL Guzape Mall and AICL Executive Office Suites in Garki II .

Source: Vanguard