Kaduna government to collaborate with FMB on housing

Kaduna State Government says it will collaborate with the Federal Mortgage Bank(FMB) in providing affordable housing to residents of the State.

The Deputy Governor of the State Dr. Hadiza Balarabe stated this while receiving officials of Federal Mortgage Bank lead by the Managing Director, Ahmed Dangiwa who paid a courtesy visit to the State Government House.

She commended the bank for its reforms, which will ease the hardship faced by low-income individuals in accessing affordable housing.

Hadiza further assured the delegation of government’s support needed in actualizing the bank’s mandate.

She said as part of government reforms, the State Ministry of Housing and Infrastructure embarked on urban renewal project for the provision of standard and affordable housing to the people of the State.

“We will have new layout and with the partnership, we will put up, standard affordable houses would be provided for our people,” she stressed.

Speaking shortly after the meeting, the Managing Director, Federal Mortgage Bank of Nigeria, Ahmed Dangiwa, said the aim of the visit was to seek for collaboration with the State government in contributing to National Housing Fund.

Dangiwa disclosed that they were collaborating with the State government as one of its major stakeholders, major contributors to National housing funds adding that, State and LGAs are all contributors to NHF.

He explained further that, FMB has built about 1,128 house in Kaduna for the benefit of the people.

“We have built houses variously across the State costing about over N5.6bn.
And we have come forward to seek more land to build more houses in Kaduna State.”

According to him, they want more civil servants, public, private and informal officers to key into the National Housing Fund.

“When you start contribution, even if you are not a civil servant this is the only way in which you can benefit from the product of Federal mortgage of Nigeria. You need to go to our office and pay monthly contribution of 2.4 per cent of the amount which is 1/ 40 of your earnings in a month and that qualifies you after six months of contribution to benefit up to 15m mortgage loans and other product.”

He, therefore, called on the people of the State to key into the National Housing Fund to be part of the beneficiaries.

Credit: Voice of Nigeria