Borno Governor, Professor Babagana Umara Zulum on Wednesday inaugurated a committee saddled with the responsibility of building a new estate of 500 houses to be started immediately in Maiduguri. The Governor also approved the sales of 2,787 houses in five government estates, to persons who were allocated the houses by successive administrations.
Speaking during the committee’s inauguration at the government house in Maiduguri, Zulum said the 500 new houses are to be completed next year, (2020).
The high-powered committee, chaired by the state’s deputy governor, Umar Usman Kadafur has members that include professional engineers.
The Governor announced that he had approved the recommendation of a different committee, to begin the sale of 2,787 houses made up of the 1,000 and 777 housing estates, the 505, 303 and 202 estates on owner-occupier basis, meaning those living in the houses will be made pay a sum after which they fully own the houses. Under existing condition, the houses belong to the state government while those allocated the houses pay annual rents to government.
Zulum recalled at the brief ceremony, that his administration has entered legal agreement with Family Homes Nigeria Ltd, a private housing developer, for the construction of 1,700 urban housing and 3,200 rural housing in the state. This he explains would be executed through a public-private partnership.
The Governor, at the occasion, paid glowing tribute to his predecessor, Senator Kashim Shettima, for the laudable efforts in increasing access to affordable houses across rural and urban areas of the state.
”My predecessor has amply demonstrated commitment towards the provision of affordable housing targeted at low/middle level income households in urban/rural centres and the reconstruction of ravaged communities” Zulum said.
The Governor promised that his administration will ensure sustainable rural and urban development through the creation and enforcement of policies that regulate construction in order to guarantee public safety, encourage innovation, maintenance and upgrades of existing housing infrastructure across the state.
