Senate Committee Expresses Satisfaction As Nhp Portal Receives 7,315 Applications In Seven Days ·      As Fashola defends 2022 Budget before Senate Committee on Housing ·       Minister assures that there will be continuous review and updating of the process in order to maintain transparency, quality control ·      “We are also impressed that the data you gave to us showed that you’ve launched out.You’ve hit the ground running,” says Committee Chairman. As Nigerians respond positively to the Ministry of Works and Housing portal opened last Tuesday for a chance to subscribe to the over 5,000 houses under the Federal Government’s National Housing Programme, the Minister of Works and Housing, Mr. Babatunde Fashola, SAN, has announced that a total of 7,315 applications for allocation have already been received by the Ministry. Fashola, who appeared before the Senate Committee on Lands, Housing and Urban Development in continuation of the defense of the 2022 Budget of his Ministry, also submitted to the Committee the documents showing the number of applications submitted and those completed and undergoing processing as well as a breakdown of the number according to States.  And at the end of the defense, which took the form of a robust interaction, the Committee expressed satisfaction at the development in the Housing Sector with many, including the Chairman, Senator Sam Egwu, noting with delight that with the portal now opened, the Ministry has really launched out.  Explaining the criteria for pricing of the different categories of houses, the Minister, who said the prices ranged from N7.2 million, representing the lowest and N16.5 million representing the highest price, pointed out that one of the factors that made the difference in price between the Programme’s houses and those being built by private developers was size.  He told members of the Committee that the categories of the houses under the programme included 1, 2, 3 bed rooms semi- detached bungalows and condominium, (blocks of flats), adding that there are also price differentials among the categories of houses based also on the size and space with all the bungalows, for example, having adjoining land thereby making it more expensive than the flats. Fashola explained on the prices placed on the categories of houses further, “When compared with what is obtainable in the Private Sector in terms of size, the one bedroom with 77sqm of living space, two bedroom with 90sqm, and the three bedroom with 137sqms, are by far larger than houses built by private developers and justifies the prices placed on them.” The Minister, who also noted that one bedroom flat in condominium, is 60sqms, two bedroom flats, 76sqms while the 3 bedroom flat is 110sqms, all of which, pointed out that they are more spacious than what is available in the conventional market, adding, “You cannot get them at such price in the market”. Urging the lawmakers and other interested Nigerians to engage with the portal for answers to all the relevant questions, including quality, size and appearance of the house in any location across the country, the Minister declared, “Our thinking is informed by what we have experienced in parts of our lives and what we think is best practice. We think this is the digital age and we should begin to do things that are consistent with the age, not printing and selling forms”. In response to a question on possible manipulation of the system, he explained, “We should not be creating unnecessary bureaucracies that will bring about unnecessary human interactions and possibly some of the manipulations you refer to”, adding, “that does not mean that any system cannot be manipulated but we think that this is consistent with the objective of government”. “We are now in a country where we now buy air tickets with our handheld devices. We book hotels with our handheld devices. I don’t see why we can’t buy and sell houses with our handheld devices and I have done it as Governor in Lagos and I thought we should try it at the national level”, the Minister said noting that the Federal Government itself has said that everybody should subscribe to various identification means like BVN and so on. “We think that that is where we should be going”, he said. Noting that the portal was launched barely a week ago, Fashola again urged, “Let us give it time to evolve and I think that 7,315 applications from Nigerians within this time is a very enthusiastic response”, adding that all those who had applied had paid N10,000 online to the Remita platform. “So contrary to the assumptions that because conditions are difficult, that form that you would have sold in printed form is being sold digitally and government is collecting the money for administrative purposes”, the Minister said adding that although it is open to all Nigerians, some of the conditions that address facelessness include having a passport photograph and a tax clearance certificate and other means of identification like national ID, driver’s license or International passport.   Responding to concerns raised about affordability of the houses, “Affordability is not just a function of the cost but also the mode of payment,” adding that in order to take care of that aspect, the Ministry created the mortgage and Rent-to-Own options so that the payment could be spread over time.   On whether the Ministry was not duplicating the works of its agencies, the Federal Housing Authority (FHA) and Federal Mortgage Bank of Nigeria (FMBN), Fashola, who noted that the Ministry as head and supervisor of the agencies, was only carrying out a pilot project from which the agencies would continue to roll out in the future.  In his closing remarks, the Chairman of the Committee, and former Governor of Ebonyi State, Senator Sam Egwu, noted that the Minister had done justice to all the questions and thanked him for his diligence and commitment to housing delivery.      “You will agree with me that the Minister has done justice to the questions we have asked him. We are also impressed that the data you gave to us showed that you’ve launched out. You’ve hit the ground running. So, we’ll continue to interact with you … Like I said, we are happy and my members are happy, that is why the Chairman House Committee is here too…”, the Chairman of the Committee said.    Also present at the meeting were the Permanent Secretary, Mr. Babangida Hussaini and Directors in the Housing Sector of the Ministry, Special Advisers and other relevant Ministry officials.   ...

National Housing Programme: We have  received over 7000 applications  Within Seven days- Fashola Works and Housing Minister, Mr. Babatunde Fashola  SAN, has revealed that 7315 applications have so far been received for the purchase of the Federal government's National Housing Programme within the first week of launching the online portal. Fashola who was speaking before the Senate Committee on Housing, Thursday, November 18th, 2021, declared " As at today, 7315 applications have been received so far and the number is still growing." The Minister explained that the Ministry had been working and  progress at selling the  houses to the public had been recorded, hence the online platform was launched inorder to be open and transparent in the sale of the houses and avoid unnecessary interference by some vested interests. Fashola stated that the categories of the houses are different from what is available in the open market. Fashola who noted that the type of houses being  offered for sale were  generous interms of space added that one bed room is 60sqm, 2 bedroom 76sqm and the 3 bedroom has 110sqm pointing out that the size is  larger than what is obtainable in other developers On the prices, Fashola  said, " There are 1,2, 3 bedrooms, some of which are bungalows while others are flats. The minimum house is N7.2m and the highest is about N16m " Fashola stated that  the Ministry carried out a survey to come up with the type of houses Nigerians desire to live in to avoid the unfortunate incidence in the past where some houses that were built were at variance with the peoples need. Speaking on the rational behind launching of the online portal for intending buyers of  the houses, he said " our thinking is based on experience and what we think is right. This is a digital age. If we buy air ticket and book hotels through the internet we believe we could do the same in applying for the houses." He however added that the system may not be perfect just like every other human endeavour but the Ministry had done what is believed to be best practice  at the moment. On the requirements for purchase, the minister listed ; passport photographs, tax clearance and means of clear identification, N10 thousand application fee amongst others. He also stated  that it is not possible for one to buy more than one house. On why the prices of some  of  these houses differ in different states, Fashola cited difference in topography and cost of building as the  determining factors,  as the cost of building houses in Bayelsa for example is higher than doing same  in Osogbo. While responding to question on the affordability of the houses, the Minister said, "Affordability is not just a  function of the cost but also the mode of payment, that is why we have created the rent  to own option of payment." he said. The Senate Committee Chairman on Housing, Senator Sam Egwu, commended the Honourable Minister on his commitment to the housing delivery for Nigerians. ...

Fashola Inaugurates 3 More Executive Directors For FHA Charges Them To Live Up To Expectations Minister of Works and Housing, Mr Babatunde Fashola, SAN has inaugurated executive directors of the Federal Housing Authority (FHA) with a call on them to live up to expectations in the discharge of their duties. The inauguration of the three executive directors was done at the main Conference room at the headquarters of the Ministry in Mabushi, Abuja, Tuesday November 16th, 2021, brings to five the number of Exevutive Director of FHA. Urging the new directors to vigorously avail themselves to the task ahead and work diligently to achieve them, Fashola listed the task as; estate development, Housing development and maintenance of the existing estates of Federal Housing Authority, pointing out the imperativeness to ascertain all the assets owned by the Authority. He further explained that having a list of all the assets belonging to Federal Housing Authority would enable Federal Government meet the housing needs of Nigerians. The Minister said, "The FHA has been repositioned to serve Nigerians in the area of housing delivery. We have taken steps to reposition the Federal Housing Authority to further deepen its ability to deliver service to Nigerians in terms of housing. One of the first thing that we did was to get Mr. President to approve the appointment of additional three executive directors which inauguration we do today". " The board used to have two executive directors but to achieve improved service delivery and asset maintenance, a recommendation and Presidential approval was sought to increase the number" he said. Earlier in his remarks, the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Mr Babangida Hussaini, encouraged the FHA directors to work together, to re-organize and improve service delivery to Nigerians in terms of housing delivery. Responding on behalf of the newly inaugurated Directors, Mrs Hauwa Babakobi, the Executive Director, Estates Services pledged their readiness to work actively and effectively as a team towards the realization of thee objectives of the Federal Housing Authority. The newly inaugurated directors were; Mrs Hauwa Babakobi Mohammed as the Executive Director, Estate Services, Mrs. Adama Kure as the Executive Director, Housing and Finance and Engineer Chinoso Sam Omole as Executive Director Project Implementation. The new board has captured the six geo-political zones of Nigeria; it is gender friendly and an assembly of brilliant Nigerians who have vast experiences in various aspects of sectors. Among others, the Executive directors are responsible for planning, and coordination of operational activities for their organization and are responsible for formulating policies and strategies to meet goals of the organization. The FHA is a key agency under the supervision of the Federal Ministry of Works and Housing, charged with the responsibility for the preparation of proposals for National Housing Programmes; execution of such housing programmes as may be approved by Government, and development and management of real estates on both commercial and profitable basis in all states of the Federation   ...