The Federal and Kogi Governments are set to build four multi-billion Naira Housing Estates in the state.
Mr Taiye Abanika, Commissioner for Housing and Urban Development, made the disclosure in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lokoja on Wednesday.
Abanika said that the planned mass housing projects by both the federal and the state governments for the people, would partly be through Public Private Partnership (PPP) arrangement.
He explained that three of the estates are to be built by the Federal Housing Authority (FHA) in line with the Renewed Hope Housing Programme of President Bola Tinubu for the benefit of the citizens of Kogi.
“The three FHA housing estates are to be located at Zariagi by GYB Junction, Crusher and Felele axis, where over 20 hectares of land has been acquired and cleared for the commencement of the project.
“The one for the state is a 1000 units estate to be located in the three senatorial districts of the state and another in Lokoja metropolis, making four divisions.
“In a nutshell, multi-billion naira would be expended on these planned estates as a sign of the government’s commitment in making sure the people enjoy the dividends of democracy.
“It’s our belief that when all these estates come on board, they will greatly reduce the housing deficit in Kogi, which people have been complaining about, ” he said.
The commissioner said that only recently the state government entered into an agreement and signed an MOU with Family Homes Funds Limited, a private developer “for the construction of 228 semi-detached houses for citizens, especially the civil servants.”
He stressed that all indices pointed to the fact that Gov. Ahmed Ododo’s led administration has strong concerns to the well-being of the citizens of the state.
Abanika also disclosed that the government was building a barrack for the Police Squadron at Ifegoro along Auchi – Okene road.
He said the measure is to ensure the comfort of the security personnel for effectively securing the lives of kogi residents and passers-by since the state is a gateway to both Northern and Southern parts of the country.
“There are one bedroom and two bedroom flats, being built in the barrack, which have changed the look of that place into beauty.
“If the government can do this within only a few months, the civil servants should be rest assured that the governor is deeply thinking and concerned about what is paining us.
“All these are aside the student hostels built for both males and females in Confluence University of Science and Technology, Osara, Prince Abubakar Audu University Ayingba and Kogi State University, Kabba and the edifice housing the state and Local government accountants,” he said. (NAN)
