The Kogi State Government has vowed to reclaim all illegally occupied housing units across the 21 local government areas of the state.
The Commissioner for Housing and Urban Development, Abanika Taiye disclosed this to journalists on Friday.
Taiye expressed concern over the alarming rate of illegal occupation of properties under the National Housing Program, NHP, in the state.
According to the commissioner, the NHP is a national initiative aimed at providing accessible, sustainable and affordable housing in the state.
The commissioner noted that recent assessments reveal that approximately 85 percent of the housing units in Phases 1, 2, and 3 of the National Housing Program have been forcefully occupied by illegal occupants.
His words “This not only disrupts the program’s intended purpose but also compromises the dreams and aspirations of rightful beneficiaries”.
To address this issue, the commissioner stated that the ministry has taken steps to rectify the situation, including collecting and processing houses deposited back to the office to identify and fine-tune them for rightful ownership.
“The state government is preparing to hand over keys to legitimate subscribers who have followed due process and fulfilled program requirements,” he added.
He reiterated the ministry’s commitment to address the illegal invasion of the properties, adding that robust law enforcement interventions are necessary to safeguard the houses, restore order and ensure legitimate occupants can reclaim their rightful homes.
“The ministry remains committed to housing equity and empowerment of all citizens through the NHP.
“The state government will prioritize this issue, collaborating with its people to implement effective solutions that protect the program’s integrity and beneficiaries.
“Together, we can ensure the vision of accessible, sustainable, and affordable housing is fulfilled for all citizens of Kogi State,” he added.
