From Isaac Anumihe, Abuja
The Federal Government has commenced the sale of houses under the National Housing Programme (NHP).
In a statement, the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Housing and Urban Development, Dr Marcus Ogunbiyi, said that the successful subscribers would be contacted by the Federal Controllers of Housing and Urban Development in the states as well as the Chairman/CEO, Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NIDCOM) as from Thursday 18 April 2024 for collection.
He disclosed that out of a total of 8925 applications that were received, 1294 were for outright payment, 2408 for mortgage, 2184 for rent to own and 3039 were for installmental payment modes.
Ogunbiyi informed the applicants that the offer of New Provisional Allocation Letters for the first batch of successful applicants under the Outright Payment mode is now ready.
“Applicants under the Mortgage, Rent to Own and Instalment payment modes who should be subscribers to the National Housing Fund (NHF) are presently undergoing profiling,” he added.
The Permanent Secretary, however, noted that there are no completed houses in Abia, Lagos, Bayelsa, and Rivers states and the FCT, adding that allocation of houses in these states would be done upon the completion of the housing units later in the year.
Recall that the NHP was one of the cardinal achievements of President Muhammad Buhari under which he used to fulfil the almost 30-year promise of the federal government to allocate houses to 22 players of the 1994 Super Eagles who won the Africa Nation’s Cup.
According to the former Minister of Works and Housing, Mr Babatunde Fashola, the programme has been used to stimulate the economies of 34 states and the FCT by providing work for artisans, builders, engineers, and other skilled persons in the built industry.
“Let me start by telling you how pleased I am that the National Housing Programme that was initiated by our ministry at the onset of the Muhammadu Buhari-led administration is now delivering on its objective.
“Apart from stimulating the economies of the 34 states and the FCT in the communities where work is being undertaken for the construction of houses, by providing work for artisans, builders, engineers, and other skilled persons in the built industry, the construction sites have been and remained centres of supply for building materials and other commodities,” he said.