Odimmegwa Johnpeter/Abuja
The Federal Government officially handed over 188 housing units to the Taraba State Government in Jalingo as part of its renewed commitment to providing access, increasing affordability, and bridging the housing deficit in the country. This was contained in a statement signed by Badamasi S. Haiba, Fsca, mnipr, Director, Press and Public Relations.
The houses were built under the Federal Government’s National Housing Programme (NHP), initiatives in all the states of the federation.
Minister of Housing and Urban Development, Engr. Muttaqa Rabe Darma, PhD, performed the handover of the houses to the Taraba State Governor, Dr Agbu Kefas, at a colourful ceremony held at the Government House in Jalingo. He was supported by the Hon. Minister of State, Rt. Hon. Yusuf Abdullahi Ata, and the Permanent Secretary, Dr. Shuaib Belgore.
Speaking at the ceremony, Minister Darma described housing as a basic human need and said the project reflects the Federal Government’s commitment to closing Nigeria’s housing gap.
“Housing is one of the most essential needs of any human being,” Darma said. “The Federal Ministry of Housing and Urban Development is building these houses across the country. They must be functional, and they must be occupied.”
Darma said the fastest way to get the houses to Nigerians is for state governments to acquire them and allocate them to citizens, including civil servants, members of the security forces, and the general public.
“Taraba State has taken this giant step under the National Housing Programme,” he said. “By acquiring the units directly, the state can now allocate them quickly and ensure that working families benefit without delay.”
The 188 units are part of the Federal Government’s Renewed Hope Housing Agenda, an initiative aimed at providing affordable and decent housing and reducing the country’s housing deficit. The programme also seeks to stimulate job creation through construction and support the development of sustainable communities.
In his remarks, the Governor of Taraba State, Dr Agbu Kefas, thanked the Federal Government for the intervention and credited the Ministry for driving the process.
“We appreciate the proactive leadership of the Federal Ministry of Housing and Urban Development,” the Governor said. “This handover is clear testimony of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s commitment to providing affordable housing for all Nigerians under the Renewed Hope Agenda.”
The Governor added that the state government will put in place a transparent allocation process to ensure that the homes reach those who need them most.
With the Taraba handover completed, the Ministry said it expects more states to join the acquisition model as part of efforts to move houses from government inventory to citizens faster.
The Renewed Hope Housing Agenda includes the delivery of Renewed Hope Cities and Estates in all states of the federation, with a focus on affordability, quality, and access.
The Federal Ministry of Housing and Urban Development is responsible for housing policy, the National Housing Programme, and the implementation of the Renewed Hope Housing Agenda nationwide.
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