By Oluwaseun Sonde
The people of Kano State on Thursday, joined in the outpouring of commendation across the country, as Nigerian President, Muhammadu Buhari commissioned affordable National Housing Programme in the State.
Federal Government under the Federal Ministry of Works and Housing successfully completed Phase1 of the National Housing Programme in 34 States including the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
From Sokoto to Asaba, the story has been the same as Nigerians thanked President Buhari for the provision and commissioning of the pilot scheme of affordable, accessible and acceptable houses as contained in the National Housing Policy.
So far, completed housing units under Phase 1 of the National Housing Programme have been commissioned in Kaduna, Kogi, Delta, Imo, Osun, Nasarawa, Sokoto, Niger and now Kano State.
However more of such housing projects are lined up for commissioning by the President in many other states as soon as arrangements are tidied up.
In Kano, the District Head of Gama Kwari Jaba, where the houses are located Mallam Musa Usman, while thanking President Buhari, said the project has really opened up his community for commercial activities, adding that his subjects derived maximum benefits by way of getting paid job in the course of the project.
The ward Head prayed for the President and asked the Government to do more in order to improve the living condition of the people and curb the rate of unemployment in the country.
Speaking in the same vein a labourer who was engaged during the construction, Mohammad Lawal said that with the little money he made, he was able to settle the school fees of his children and use part of it to provide food for his family.
“I thank President Muhammadu Buhari and the Minister of Works and Housing, Mr. Babatunde Fashola, SAN, for this project. God bless our President. I pray and wish him a successful end of tenure," he said.
Others who spoke were: food vendors, iron benders, carpenters and other labourers that worked in the site unanimously prayed for and commended President Muhammadu Buhari for the laudable housing project.
They all in separate interviews, expressed their genuine happiness in the way the project turned around their daily lives for the better, as according to them, "A means of earning their daily bread was created through the project."
A total of 76-units of houses comprising, 4-units of one bedroom, 48-units of two bedroom and 24 units of three bedroom bungalows were commissioned in Kano State.
At the commissioning in Kano, the President represented by the Minister of Defence, Major General Bashir Salihi Magashi, Rtd said: "This housing estate being commissioned today is an example of the fulfillment of the promise of change we made to Nigerians."
President Buhari said the housing estates that were constructed in the 34 states of the federation were a clear manifestation of the progressive ideals of the present administration to improve the human condition of Nigerians.
President Buhari said, “The micro, small and medium size businesses that drive the economy have unleashed a value chain of economic activities that improved the conditions of the ordinary Nigerians."
Accordingly, he said, those business activities added value to human condition, saying, "In the process, Nigerians at the bottom of the pyramid such as artisans, builders, skilled and unskilled workers and food vendors were not left out of this economic value chain."
Mr. President also pointed out that the desire and commitment of his administration towards improving the human condition was gaining more impetus as jobs were being created for the teeming populace via the housing estates, adding that people who had aspired for a long time to own a home are now seeing their dreams come true with this housing projects.
On his part, the Honourable Minister of Works and Housing, Babatunde Raji Fashola, SAN said that as the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari draws to an end, there is great leap in completion of projects all over the federation.
The Minister was represented in Kano by the Director of Public Building and Housing Development Federal Ministry of Works and Housing, Arc. Solomon Labafilo.
Fashola said, "As we head towards the end of President Muhammadu Buhari's tenure of office, I am happy to also say that we enter a season of completion when many projects such as this begin to bear fruits."
Fashola further stated that the houses commissioned were opened to the general public in non-discriminating way by opening of the National Housing Portal to ensure transparency of bidding processes in acquiring the houses.
He added that, "We welcome those who can afford to pay outright. It is not a condition of eligibility and have offered flexible payment options like mortgage and rent to own which we encourage applicants to pursue."
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