The Federal Housing Authority (FHA) has commenced construction of low and medium cost homes in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital.
The Nation disclosed that the buildings will sit on 1000 hectares of land set aside as Ajoda New Town along Ibadan-Ife expressway. The cheapest flat in the estate will cost a little over N4 million according to a building partner Dr Mike Anjorin.
In a chat with The Nation after a familiarisation tour of the project, the Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer, FHA, Sen. Gbenga Ashafa, said the housing scheme was aimed at providing affordable homes for Nigerians as part of the promise of the President Muhammadu Buhari administration.
Ashafa, who was accompanied by some FHA directors, said the builders were doing due diligence before erecting the buildings in line with the standards of FHA.
He described Ajoda New Town project as a “work-in-progress,” pointing out that the estate is open to all Nigerians regardless of wherever they live.
He said “What the Federal Government through the National Housing Scheme (NHS) has done is to get some Nigerian developers to put in their expression of interest. We gave them the land to build. With that, we became partners. And then through the quantities, they determine the terrain of the land.
“They have said that there are some portions of the land which used to be dump sites. This shows the thoroughness of our approach. When we are about to undertake a project, we do the needful by looking at the soil type. Our engineers will design. In this case, the houses built so far have reinforced foundation.
“We are partnering with the Oyo State Government. We have requested the governor to please intervene in the area of the major road in the community. If it is expanded and tarred it will open up the estate. The road will also extend to the police formation. All those informed the sense in choosing this location.
“The security of our people is germane to us. The bottomline as far as President Muhammadu Buhari and Minister Babatunde Fashola are concerned is that the final product must be affordable to an average Nigerian.
“I have gone through the project and I have seen that the amount being quoted is affordable to the middle and upper low income earners. When you compare that to what you get outside, you will know that this government is trying.”
Anjorin, who is the Managing Director, Woodston Engineering & Construction Ltd., explained that the project would be delivered in 24 months.
His company is one of the building partners to the FHA on the project. It has delivered some samples.
A total of 868 flats will be built in the estate including social housing. Cost of buildings includes all social amenities.
Ashafa revealed the building partners will be supported by the Family Homes Fund and one other mortgage bank to ease funding challenge for the building partners.
According to him, similar projects are in Osogbo, Abeokuta, Ota, Abuja and other parts of the country.
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