Anambra State Governor, Prof. Chukwuma Soludo has commissioned Federal Mortgage Bank of Nigeria (FMBN), Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Trade Union Congress (TUC) and Nigerian Employees Consultative Association (NECA), Housing Estate under the National affordable housing delivery programme for Nigerian workers.
The Housing project is located at Hill View Estate, Nkwelle Ezunaka, Oyi Local Government Area of the State.
Soludo, represented by His Chief of Staff, Ernest Ezeajugh, described housing as cardinal point of his government, as well as most important to the society.
He said, “Apart from the civil servants, we still look for housing for others, we provide land and other infrastructures for the housing process.
“We encourage Banks and other mortgage providers to provide leisure places like amusement parks.
“You should also look for means to enable low income civil servants to afford the cost of the housing scheme.”
Managing Director, Federal Mortgage Bank of Nigeria, Mr Madi Hamman disclosed that the project was fully funded by the bank in fulfillment of its commitment to the realisation of the home ownership dreams of workers.
Hamman, represented by Executive Director, Business Development and Portfolio Management, Kingsley Chukwuma stated that its strategic collaborative engagements with Labour had grown beyond mere rhetoric to reality.
“This project, developed under the phase 2 of the collaboration, consists of 180 housing units comprising 120 units of 2 Bedroom semi detached bungalows and 60 units of 3 bedroom fully detached bungalows at N7million and N8million respectively.
“The Estate is fully serviced with basic infrastructure, including internal road network, drainages, electricity and water to create a conductive and liveable environment,” he said.
While praising the developer for timely delivery of the project, Chukwuma reiterated its commitment to deliver cost effective, safe, decent, qualitative and affordable housing to Nigerians.
“The FMBN remains the only institution offering affordable mortgages to Nigerians at less than 10 percent interest rate through products like Individual NHFLoan, Individual NHF Construction Loan, Home Renovation Loan, Rent- to-own product and Cooperative Housing Development Loan,” he said.
Earlier, NLC National President, Comrade Joe Ajaero, stressed the need for civil servants to procure the housing scheme at affordable price, adding that their present salary would not go for such costly price.
“I doubt if those civil servants who earn #30,000 minimun wage will benefit from the housing scheme. It is only those of them at director level that can afford the cost.
” At a minimum of #30,000 per month means in 35 years which is retirement age, he will get #12.6million,” so is difficult for him to benefit from the housing scheme,” he posited.
Also speaking, Managing Director, Housing Corporation, Anambra State, Chike Anyaonu, appreciated all who contributed to the successful commissioning, adding that the cut in price of housing fee was to support civil servants and the entire people to become landlords.
Speaking, Samuel Mike Chukwudi who represented NECA, described the commissioning as another success story as similar projects had been commissioned in four states.
He called for more housing estates for Nigerians to live and become landlords to help curtail their hardship at this economic downturn.
