Housing supply will reduce multidimensional poverty – Buhari

The President Major General Muhammadu Buhari (retd.) has described housing deficit as one of the indices of multi-dimensional poverty.

He added that with the provision of houses, the level of poverty would reduce in the country.

The President spoke on Tuesday at the official inauguration of the 746 housing units built by the Federal Housing Authority in the Zuba area of the Federal Capital Territory.

The PUNCH reports that the N9.5bn estate which is located on 18.5 hectares of land consists of 16 blocks of three-bedroom flats in and block of 8 flats; 32 blocks of 2-bedroom flats in a block of 8 flats; 14 blocks of 1-bedroom flats in a block of 16 flats and 5 blocks of terrace duplexes in 4 rows.

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Speaking during the event, the president stated that the provision of houses remains one of the best ways to attack poverty, create prosperity and develop the economy, stressing that the project is part of the government’s efforts to curb poverty and provide shelter for the populace.

He said, ‘‘I convey my hearty congratulations to the new homeowners in this estate. Our promise of change has been fulfilled for you,’’

‘‘Housing supply is one of the indices of multi-dimensional poverty that challenges our people and the completion of this estate provides a solution for the beneficiaries.

‘‘The new homeowners who benefit from this estate have taken a step up on the ladder of prosperity and away from poverty.’’

Commending the chairman, Managing Director, Members of the Board and Staff of FHA on the successful completion of the estate, the president noted that the project was another testament to his administration’s commitment to lifting people out of poverty.

The president also urged the management of FHA not to relent in delivering other projects at various stages of construction and development across the states and charged residents of the estate to consciously work together with the FHA to ensure the maintenance of the property and the safety of the environment.

On his part, The Minister of Works and Housing, Babatunde Fashola, said 75 contractors were engaged in the course of the project, while over 13,000 Nigerians were employed both directly and indirectly.

He also thanked the president for providing leadership through his approval of appointments to the leadership of the FHA Board and Management.

‘‘Instead of abandoned projects, we now have 748 completed housing units for Nigerians and their families to shelter,’’

‘‘Although many of the beneficiaries of this project will never meet the President personally, your policies and programmes have affected their lives.”

The Managing Director and Chief Executive Office of FHA, Senator Gbenga Ashafa, described the commissioning of the project as a manifestation of the President’s visionary and deliberate housing policy, which he approved in order to fulfil his promise of providing shelter to Nigerians.

He said the Authority delivered the project at a total cost of N9.5 billion with the subvention of N7.5 billion from the Federal Government.

He explained that the balance of N2 billion of construction cost came from the Authority’s other projects which was ploughed into to complete the estate.