Minister Of State, Suleiman Zarma Urges National Housing Contractors To Plant Economic Trees Round The Estates

In continuation of his inspection tour of on- going Federal Government projects in the North- Central geo-political Zone, of the country, Minister of State 11, Federal Ministry of Power, Works and Housing, Surv Suleiman Hassan Zarma has urged contractors handling the construction  of the National Housing Programme (NHP) to plant economic trees that will not only green the estates but add economic value to the residents when government eventually dispose the houses to Nigerians.

The Minister said he would rather prefer economic trees to the aesthetic ones in view of their health and economic benefits. He said trees should not be planted to merely beautify an environment without adding any value to residents. He added that trees such as Mangoes, oranges, nime, pineapples etc will benefit the people more..

Zarma also inspected several road projects in Nassarawa, Benue and Plateau States. He acknowledged the substantial work recorded at some of the roads but decried the slow pace of some of them. He cautioned that government will no longer tolerate delays by contractors in delivery dates of government projects. According to him, “Government is eager to open up all the roads for economic activities, we don’t want excuses from contractors, more so when Government is not owing you”.

The Minister commended RCC, contractors handling the Loko- Oweto bridge for the standard quality and materials used in the construction of the bridge noting, that Nigerians were eager to have the bridge ready soon as it is strategically constructed as an access corridor to  link Nassarawa and Benue States with the South- East States. The bridge is about 96% completed.

Zarma also paid courtesy visits to Governors Umaru Tanko Al Makura of Nassarawa State, Samuel Ortom of Benue and Simon Dalung of Plateau State. The Minister restated the administration’s commitment to deliver critical infrastructure,  particularly improved power supply, motorable roads and housing for the benefits of Nigerians whom he said are “thirsty and hungry” for improved living standards.

The state governors  in their separate responses, said they will continue to  partner with the Federal Government to deliver goods and services to the people and also assured that the state governments are more than ready to provide additional hectares of land for the take off of the second phase of the National Housing Programme. 

The Minister used the occasion of the courtesy visit to request for additional lands from the states governors for the Family Hommes Funds, a social housing project from the office of the Vice President to add to the housing stock and targeting the low income earners. According to him, he was making the plea in his capacity as the chairman of the Lands and Infrastructure sub committee of the project, adding that the fund is targeting the provision of 100,000 houses annually.

Roads inspected in the states include: Rehabilitation of Nassarawa-Loko Road with Alushi Loop Phase 1, Lafia- Obi- Awe-Tunga Road in Nassarawa state,  Dualisation of Otukpo Township Road to Enugu, Rehabilitation of 9th Mile Otukpo- Makurdi, Oshegbudu- Oweto Phase 11 in Benue. Also, in Plateau State, the Minister and his team inspected the construction of the Pankshin-Ballang- Nyelleng-Sara-Lere-Gindiri road and the Pankshin-Tsphin- Gambar- Gindiri road.

The Minister also inspected the 22.5MVA capacitor bank and 1&60 MVA,132&33KVA Power transformer at the Keffi sub station in Nassarawa state and the additional 1&60 MVA transformer at the 132KV sub regional station in Jos South, Plateau state aimed at expanding power supply to Jos and its surroundings.

FG Moves To End Housing Deficit: Initiates Family Homes Fund Housing Project To Deliver Affordables Housing Accross The Nation

The Federal Government in a bid to finding lasting solutions to the huge national housing deficit in the country, the Economic Management Team of the Federal Government hasset up a Family Homes Fund Task Force to facilitate the implementation and delivery of the Family Homes Housing Project across the nation.

Speaking during the in augural meeting of the Land and Infrastructure and Off –take Sub – Committees for the project, the Chairman and Minister of State II for Power, Works and Housing, Surv. Suleiman Hassan, mnis, stated that the project is a new widow intended to deliver more affordable houses to Nigerians. He noted that the essence is to consistently deliver about 100 housing units annually and create more jobs to the teaming unemployed Nigerians.

The Minister added that the Land and Infrastructure sub-committee is to engage with relevant state governments and stakeholders on prime locations of land in the various states of the Federation. Also, the Offtake Sub - Committee is to determine a model for the participation of staff housing cooperatives, adding that this will be able to take care of retired civil servants, officers and personnel of the security forces.

The Minister enjoined members of the sub-committees to bring their wealth of experience to bear in order to actualize this laudable initiative of the Federal Government geared towards the delivery of affordable mass housing.

In her response, representative of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation and Permanent Secretary, Service Welfare Office, Mrs Didi Walson-Jack stated that affordable and quality houses is a key issue that the government is pursuing, adding that members of the Offtake sub-committee will do the needful in meeting up with the task ahead.

Also speaking at the occasion, the Special Adviser to the President on Economic Matters, Dr. Adeyemi Dipeolu noted that one of the most important aims of the Family Home Project is to identify the financing requirements, draw up a sustainable financing of the models, structure of financing and buy-in of relevant Agencies including the Nigerian Mortgage Re-Financing Corporation for the continuity of the programme.

AN ADDRESS BY THE PERMANENT SECRETARY, DR. MARCUS O OGUNBIYI ON THE OCCASION OF THE SIGNING OF PERFORMANCE CONTRACT BETWEEN THE PERMANENT SECRETARY AND THE DIRECTORS/HEAD OF DEPARTMENT OF THE MINISTRY ON THURSDAY 4^TH JULY 2024 AT THE MINISTRY’S CONFERENCE ROOM

Protocol.

I am pleased to welcome you to this very important occasion which marks a pivotal moment in institutionalising Performance Management System in the Federal Ministry of Housing and Urban Development in line with the Presidential Mandate and directive from the Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation.

2.       Performance Management System is one of the key pillars of the ongoing reform in the Federal Civil Service. Today the Performance Contracts will be signed between the Permanent Secretary and Directors and Heads of Departments of the Ministry. This is also in alignment with the national priorities and presidential deliverables. It is also to ensure that this Ministry remains among the leading Ministries, Extra-Ministerial Departments and Agencies (MDAs) in the implementation of the ongoing reforms in the Service. I am happy the signing of performance contracts with our directors is happening today. It is a clear testament to our collective commitment to excellence and efficiency. I must express my pleasure to the Director, Planning, Research and Statistics (PRS) and members of the Technical Team who have been working back-to-back for several weeks to ensure that this occasion becomes a reality.  This is a demonstration of excellence and I will urge you to remain consistent in this professional posture and dedication to duty.   

3.       Under the visionary leadership of His Excellency, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, this Ministry has been given a mandate to drive Pillar 5 of the Presidential Priorities focusing on “Transportation and Infrastructure as enablers of growth”. This is one of the three components that formed the framework for the development of the Ministerial Performance Management System Plan (MPMS) through which the departmental Performance Contracts were developed. Other components are the Operational Priorities of the Ministry which are derived from the National Development Plan; and, the Service-wide Priorities that comprised critical pillars and initiatives from the Federal Civil Service Strategies and Implementation Plan 2021-2025 (FCSSIP25). 

4.       Through several ambitious projects across the country, we are not just building houses; we are laying the foundations for sustainable communities, fostering social cohesion, and stimulating economic activity. These initiatives are not mere constructions from bricks and mortar; they represent a commitment to improving the quality of life for every Nigerian, ensuring access to affordable housing and essential amenities. These critical activities/projects have developed into Key Performance Indicators, Targets and Milestones which will now form the basis of your appraisal as your presence in the Ministry is to help the Ministry to deliver on its mandates in order to solve problems in the housing sector in Nigeria. Your performance translates into the Ministry’s performance. If you perform well, the Ministry will perform well. If you contribute your quota based on the weights attributed to your departments excellently well, you are boosting the Ministry’s chances to do well and serve Nigerians better. You and your departments should not be the reason why the Ministry will score low and fail to deliver on critical projects meant to address critical issues that can enable growth of other sectors of the economy. We are an important Ministry in the current dispensation. What you do in your departments are sources of enablers for growth of the country.  

5.       I wish to reiterate that today’s signing of performance contracts with you underscores our collective determination to deliver results that align with the aspirations of our people. Each director here plays a pivotal role in driving forward the reform agenda of the Federal Civil Service and priorities of government. Your dedication are crucial in ensuring the successful implementation of the targets and milestones in your contracts, and I shall be ready to provide necessary support you may need in my role as the Permanent Secretary.

6.       These performance contracts are more than administrative formalities; they are blueprints for action. They outline specific objectives, timelines, and measurable outcomes that will guide our efforts in the coming months. By holding ourselves accountable, we demonstrate our commitment to transparency and effectiveness in governance.

7.       As we embark on this journey, let us harness the transformative power of infrastructure to create sustainable growth and prosperity across our nation. Together, we can build a civil service that not only meets but exceeds the expectations of our citizens.

8.       In closing, I extend my heartfelt appreciation to each of you for your unwavering commitment to this exercise. We sign these performance contracts with a renewed sense of purpose and optimism, knowing that by working together, we can build a brighter future for Nigeria. I will expect you to immediately commence the process of cascading signing of performance contracts with subordinates and ensure that it is done within the next two weeks.

Thank you.

Remarks By The Hon. Minister Of Housing And Urban Development, Arc. Ahmed Musa Dangiwa, At The Ground-Breaking Of The 250-Housing Unit Renewed Hope Estate In Osun On Tuesday, July 2, 2024

Protocols

Distinguished Guests, Ladies and Gentlemen,

First, I would like to thank His Excellency, the Executive Governor of Osun State, Sen. Ademola Adeleke for honoring our invitation to the groundbreaking of a 250-housing unit Renewed Hope Estate here in the State’s capital. 

Today’s ceremony is a continuation of the nationwide groundbreaking exercise for housing projects under the Renewed Hope Cities and Estates Programme of the Federal Ministry of Housing and Urban Development, which His Excellency, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, launched in February with the commissioning of a 3,112-housing unit in Karsana, Abuja.

Under Phase One of this programme, we plan to deliver a total of 50,000 housing units across Nigeria. This includes 7 Renewed Hope Cities that will have between 500 and 1,000 housing units per site in each of the six geopolitical zones in the country and the FCT, while the Renewed Hope Estates will have 250 units per site in the remaining thirty (30) states.

With this housing programme, we plan to unlock the massive potential of housing development to create jobs, uplift lives, and boost economic development. This is in line with the Renewed Hope Agenda of Mr. President to STIMULATE INCLUSIVE GROWTH, LIFT 100 MILLION NIGERIANS OUT OF POVERTY, AND BUILD A $1 TRILLION ECONOMY.

As you may recall, last month, following the presidential launch of the programme in Abuja, we embarked on the first leg of this exercise with the groundbreaking of 1,500 housing units in the northern part of Nigeria. This includes 250-housing unit Renewed Hope Estates, one each in Katsina, Yobe, Gombe, and Sokoto, and a 500-housing unit Renewed Hope City in Kano. Work is currently ongoing at each of these sites, and our plan is to have all of them completed within the next couple of months and made available to Nigerians in line with Mr. President’s desire to provide quality housing for all Nigerians. UNDER THE RENEWED HOPE AGENDA, WE ARE IMPLEMENTING A ZERO TOLERANCE FOR UNCOMPLETED PROJECTS.
This second leg will see us break ground for a total of 2,000 Renewed Hope Housing Units across eight (8) states in the South and North Central. We started last week Wednesday with 250 units in Ebonyi; Thursday we were in Abia for another 250 units, Friday we were in Akwa Ibom for another 250 units, Saturday we were in Delta State for another 250 units, and today we are happy to be here in Osun to flag off another 250 units. The next stop from here will be Benue, then Nasarawa after which we shall be in Oyo to complete this 2nd leg. 

This estate comprises 50 units of 1-bedroom semi-detached bungalows, 150 units of 2-bedroom semi-detached bungalows, and 50 units of 3-bedroom semi-detached bungalows.

We have designed these housing units in a way that makes them affordable for people to acquire by using organic designs to allow for future expansion as the income of beneficiaries increases. This means that a 1-bedroom unit can be expanded to 2 bedrooms, and a 2-bedroom unit can also be expanded to 3 bedrooms as the owner’s financial situation improves or their family grows.

As we perform this groundbreaking, I want to charge the contractors

1. Messrs. Muluda Nigeria Limited
2. Messrs. Ful Fledged Consult Nigeria Limited 

to ensure that they build according to specifications. I want to emphasize in very strong terms that we will not tolerate substandard work from any developer, and we will explore all necessary legal means, to ensure that they deliver as per the contract. IF YOU COLLECT GOVERNMENT MONEY, YOU MUST DO THE WORK.

We also want the developers to adhere to the timeline and finish within three months so that we can begin the process of getting Osun indigenes to purchase and move in.

To ensure affordability, we have created different options to enable everyone who has a source of income and livelihood to own these homes when they are completed. These include single-digit mortgage loans that beneficiaries can repay over 30 years, rent-to-own schemes provided by the Federal Mortgage Bank of Nigeria, and outright purchase options for those who can afford to pay upfront.

Statistics show that the construction of one housing unit creates an average of 25 direct and indirect jobs. So, for these 250 housing units in Osun, we hope to create jobs for over 6,500 people in various trades, from professionals like architects, civil engineers, and mechanical engineers to masons, plumbers, tilers, electricians, and laborers. We have seen unskilled workers at other project sites earning as much as N35,000 per week, at an average of N5,000 per day. This amounts to about N140,000 per month.

This is in addition to the economic activities, including those selling food, supplying blocks, and providing building materials. The value chain effect of construction work on this site is significant and creates a positive economic impact.
I want to state that under the Renewed Hope Agenda of His Excellency, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, we at the Federal Ministry of Housing and Urban Development are very particular about giving Nigerians value for money. We are diligently funding these projects from the N50 billion 2023 Supplementary Budget that Mr. President approved for the Ministry to ensure sustainability, quality, and geographic spread.

It is important to say that the provision of land in a good location and at no cost is a key condition for siting Renewed Hope Housing Projects. The twelve states covered under this 2023 supplementary budget are those that first provided land. I want to assure that states that have not been covered will be included in the Ministry’s 2024 Budget on a first-come, first-served basis, on the condition that they provide land at no cost to enhance affordability.

At this juncture, I want to appreciate and thank His Excellency, the Executive Governor of Osun State, His Excellency Sen. Ademola Adeleke for promptly granting our request for the provision of land at no cost. This singular action has helped us to reduce as much as 30% of the cost of the units in this Estate for the benefit of potential homeowners. This is a dividend of responsible governance and I applaud Your Excellency for this. 

Before I close my remarks, I want to thank and appreciate our President for providing the vision and the political will necessary for us to make a difference in terms of delivering decent and quality housing to Nigerians. The Groundbreaking ceremonies for these projects demonstrate that Mr. President and indeed the federal government of Nigeria is committed to fulfilling promises and responsibilities to all Nigerians.

Long live Osun and His Excellency, the Executive Governor.
Long live the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
Long live Mr. President.