NHP: FG Hands Over Keys to Beneficiaries in Kano ... “While we welcome those who can afford to pay outright, it is not a condition for eligibility and we have offered flexible payment options like Mortgages and Rent-to-Own which we encourage applicants to pursue.," Fashola clarified. ...Beneficiaries testify “The process of acquiring the houses is fair, devoid of human lobby and the quality is worth the money, and we will recommend this National Housing Programme to all Nigerians.” The Honourable Minister of Works and Housing, Mr. Babatunde Raji Fashola, SAN on behalf of the Federal Government has officially handed over keys to four beneficiaries who have fully paid for the houses for sale   built under the first phase of the National Housing Programme (NHP) in Kano, Kano State. The representative of the Minister at the official hand over, the Permanent Secretary of Works and Housing, Mr. Bashir Nura Alkali said “While we welcome those who can afford to pay outright, it is not a condition for eligibility and we have offered flexible payment options like Mortgages and Rent-to-Own which we encourage applicants to pursue,” he clarified. The Minister added “Some of the requirements for qualification to access these houses and to be uploaded on the web-portal includes: Current Passport Photograph in JPEG or PNG format;  Most recent copy of your current tax clearance / pay slip in PDF format; Means of Identification (National ID, Driver license, International Passport) in digital JPEG format; Letter of recommendation from any Primary Mortgage (for Mortgage Subscribers) and Evidence of 10% initial payment deposit (for Mortgage Subscribers only)." In his closing remarks Fashola said, “The beneficiaries today are therefore among the first set of Nigerians other than the 1994 Super Eagles who have been handed the keys to their houses promised by the Federal Government over 28years ago.” Speaking earlier, the Permanent Secretary Federal Ministry of Works and Housing, Mr. Bashir Nura Alkali who was represented by Director Public Building and Housing Development in the Ministry, Arc. Solomon Labafilo, said, “The housing types are currently available for sale to all Nigerians through the Ministry’s web portal https://nhp.worksandhousing.gov.ng comprise of 1 Bedroom, 2 Bedroom and 3 Bedroom semi-detached bungalows and   condominiums.” Alkali said, “The Philosophy behind the National Housing Programme is the provision of pilot scheme that is affordable, accessible and acceptable as contained in the National Housing Policy. The approach to the design and use of materials takes cognizance of the cultural and climatic peculiarities of the regions while responding also to the tenets of the Building Energy and Efficiency Code (BEEC) being championed by the Ministry.” “I welcome you all once again to the handing over of keys to Nigerians who have complied with the requirements of the sale and who have fully paid for the houses in Kano State,” he remarked. Speaking on behalf of the host community, Chairman of Fagge Local Government Area, Kano State, Alhaji Ibrahim Shehu said, “ I thank everyone who came to mini Nigeria to witness the handover of keys to  beneficiaries of the National Housing Programme in Fagge. He said Fagge is a mini-Nigeria in Kano State because all tribes are present here and I appreciate the Federal Government for this housing project as our Local Government is not left behind.” One of the beneficiaries a retired civil servant, Mr.Farouk Adamu who spoke on behalf of others said, “ I thank the Federal Government. The process of acquiring these houses is easy and simple. Anyone who says that he has used influence to obtain the house I will tell him it is not true. We applied through the portal that the Ministry opened. We were lucky to be selected.” “This is what Nigerians are waiting to see, especially the less privilege citizens to get things without lobby or having to know “one big man ", he commented. Another beneficiary, the Manager of Spraywell & Finch Solutions Ltd, Mr. Henry Obi was happy to say, ‘’ there was no human interference in the process of getting selected. You only get your confirmation via email and the infrastructure in the estate is qualitative with expected finishing of the buildings in order. The building is worth the money paid for it. I will recommend that Nigerians go for the National Housing Programme,’’ Obi advised. ...

Architects Are Vital in Developing Nigeria’s Infrastructure – Fashola ...Urges members to resolve the petitions and court cases hindering inauguration of the Council Minister of Works and Housing, Mr. Babatunde Fashola, SAN, Tuesday solicited the help of the country’s Architects in the Federal Government’s bid to order the developmental path of the nation, saying the Architects are vital to the infrastructure development of the country. Fashola who spoke when a delegation of the Architect Registration Council of Nigeria, ARCON, paid him a courtesy visit in his office in Abuja, told the delegation, “You have a very very big role to play in helping to order the developmental path of Nigeria,” adding that the government’s commitment to infrastructure development would be difficult if not impossible to achieve without the important contributions of the architects. The Minister said, in response to the Council’s plea for inauguration, that the only impediment to the constitution of the Council was the court cases by members of the profession, pointing out that the delay in the constitution of the Council was not the fault of his Ministry. “The President has approved many months ago that the Council be inaugurated but members are petitioning, cross- petitioning, litigating, cross- litigating.  So, we are waiting until when all these cases are resolved, the Minister said. He added that “when the cases are resolved, we will constitute the Council because we can’t be aware that there is a case in court and then take an action that can undermine the Council.” Regarding the financial request made by the President of the Council in respect to rehabilitation and funding of Architects Registration Council offices in Lagos and Abuja, the Minister who was elated at the progress made so far by the Council advised them to submit a proposal that could be valued, specifying areas they need help and funding. On the school in Kuje, Fashola suggested that the best way to approach the issue was to submit a valued proposition, adding “We are undertaking some basic repairs here and there in the school from what I see in the records; you need to be able to tell us what you want to do differently.” Speaking earlier, the leader of the delegation and ARCON President, Arc.  Dipo Ajayi, informed the Minister that they were in the Ministry among other things to invite him for the forthcoming 2022 Architect Colloquium scheduled to hold in May, 2022. Soliciting for collaboration of the Ministry in the upliftment of the Ministry’s Training Centre in Kuje,  Arc. Ajayi, informed the Minister that the Council had submitted a proposal on the need to collaborate with the Ministry in the use of the Kuje Training Centre to train artisans who are to service the built environment. “A situation where the country relies heavily on artisans from neighboring countries because of the dearth of qualified personnel needs to be addressed,” the ARCON boss said, adding that the Council considered it expedient to put the centre to use for the training of the required manpower to raise the standards of architectural technicians in Nigeria and as a way to stimulate growth of the economy in the retention of funds expended in this sector in Nigeria.” The ARCON President also informed the Minister on the outcome of the reconciliation meeting between the Nigerian Institute of Architects (NIA) and the Association of Nigerian Chartered Architects (ANCA), saying the bodies arrived at: i. The harmonization of a single Professional Competency Evaluation Programme as a path way to licensure which was agreed upon by both Councils of ARCON and NIA to replace the Professional Practice Examinations. This was done because of the appeal from the NIA to step into the issue when it was obvious that they had challenges, ii. Memorandum of understanding between ARCON and holders of the Higher National Diploma Certificate in the Architectural family. Appealing to the Minister to inaugurate the Council, Ajayi said it would enable the Council to have a potpourri of ideas to tackle the daunting mandate of a regulator of the profession of Architecture in Nigeria. There have been lingering differences among ARCON, NIA and ANCA which are the regulatory bodies overseeing the architectural family. These irreconcilable differences have led to the delay in constituting the council, though President Buhari has since given the approval for the inauguration. ...

Buhari Commissions 76 Housing Units In Gombe  .....Fulfils promise made to Super Eagles 28 years ago President Muhammadu Buhari has commissioned 76 housing units in Gombe town, Gombe State yesterday. The Housing Estate which is located at  Western Bye - Pass, Gombe, Gombe State, was built under the National Housing Programme (NHP)  and it  comprises  of 48 units of 2 bedroom, 24units of 3  bedroom and 4 units of 1bedroon bungalows. President Buhari who was represented by the Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Dr. Isa Ali Ibrahim said the completion and commissioning of the Housing Estate was in line with his promises during his presidential campaigns. The infrastructure in the Housing Estate include: well laid out internal roads and drainages, a central borehole with overhead tanks to guarantee constant supply of water for the residents and provision of electricity. President Buhari also revealed that his administration has been able to  redeem the unfulfilled promises made  by past administrations 28 years ago  to provide  houses for each member of the Super Eagles who  performed gallantly at the African Cup of Nations in 1994, adding that the fulfilment was better late than never.  The President added that Super Eagles were given the privilege to indicate where each would want the house to be built, while some wanted it in  their villages, the others wanted it where they lived and he has approved that the allocation should be made based on their choices of location, noting that even the deceased among them were not left out in the allocation. He commended Gombe State Government for allocating the land to the Federal Government without collecting fee to enable his administration provide affordable housing units for Nigerians. Speaking earlier, the Governor of Gombe State, Muhammed Inuwa Yahaya represented by the Deputy Governor, Dr. Manasseh Jato, commended the Federal Government for providing houses to the residents of Gombe State to cushion the effect of its overstretched houses. He said that Gombe State being a peaceful state has attracted  influx of foreigners to settle in it and this has overstretched the housing facilities available. Jato assured the Federal Government that Gombe State would be willing to support the Federal Government in actualising the laudable policy in the state and the country.  In his remark at the event, Minister of Works and Housing, Mr. Babatunde Fashola,SAN, who was represented by the Zonal  Director, National Housing Programme, North East Federal Ministry of Works and Housing, Arc. Usman Bashir, said  that said a similar project was replicated in 34 states of the federation in line with the administration’s pledge to ensure adequate housing for Nigerians. Explaining how the citizens can access the houses, the Minister said " We have offered all these housing units to members of the general public in a non-discriminatory way by opening the National Housing Portal at Https://nhp.worksandhousing.gov.ng to ensure that those interested are not inhibited by any artificial obstacles and allocations will be made on the basis of those who apply and pay on first come, first served basis." Speaking Earlier, the Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Works and Housing, Mr.  Bashir Nura Alkali, who was represented by the Deputy Director, Planning Research and Statistics, Dr. Dunoma Ahmed, said that it was a programme rolled out by the government of President Buhari to provide acceptable and affordable housing  for Nigerians as well as address the housing deficit bedeviling the nation. Alkali said, "The National Housing Programme is promoting local content in line with the Executive Orders 3 and 5. The use of available local building materials in the National Housing Programme (NHP) has stimulated the economy through the production and use of the materials." His Royal Highness, the Emir of Gombe, Alhaji Abubakar Shehu Abubakar, represented by Alhaji Hakeem Jaro Mohammed, commended the Federal Government for proving houses for the people of  Gombe State through the National Housing Programme. Attesting to how the project has impacted positively on the lives of  the masses in the state, a painter at the site, Mr. Musa Umar, said that the project has helped him and other artisans who worked on the project financially. He added that with the money realized they were able to support their families. He commended the government of President Buhari and requested that more projects should be brought to Gombe State so that their  citizens can benefit as well as feel federal government's impact. In addition, a carpenter, Mr.Lazarus Musa, also commended the Federal Government for embarking on such an enormous project in the state, adding that he had fifteen workers under him with whom he rendered carpentary job on the site and  paid from the money he got from the contract. ...