President Goodluck Jonathan Thursday February 13th 2014 commissioned N2.4bn mass housing of 270 flats named Aviation Village in Abuja, financed by the Federal Mortgage Bank of Nigeria (FMBN).
While commissioning the project, the president assured on the determination of his administration to provide housing for all Nigerians.
Jonathan said “as for this administration, I assure you all that improving the living standards of Nigerians is an imperative which we are resolutely pursuing.”
According to him, the recommendations of the 2011 housing retreat hosted by him in Abuja are beginning to yield fruits as a result of its implementation.
He said the National Policy on Housing had ensured that finance institutions with interest in housing are more strengthened and relevant to low income earners.
While launching the National Housing Fund (NHF) e-card scheme, the president disclosed that it will in no small measure assist NHF in assessing and monitoring their contributions and transactions with the Fund.
Jonathan stressed the need for defaulters to comply by paying their contributions as and at when due.
“Our intention is not to create a government monopoly but to encourage the private sector to drive the process while we provide the right policies and environment.
“what makes change is not the big things we do but the little things we do and to do them well” the president said.
Minister of Solid Minerals and Supervising Minister of Housing, Lands and Urban Development, Musa Sada, noted that the recapitalisation of FMBN was on the pipeline, urging the institution not to rest on its oars on estate construction across the country.
The minister disclosed new National Building Code would soon be rolled out, insisting that housing for all Nigerians was feasible.
He said NHF e-card was a modern technology and a welcome development as it will ensured online access by NHF contributors.
Chairman of the Senate Committee on Housing, Bukar Abba Ibrahim, appealed to Jonathan reverse what he described as the marginalisation of the North-east.
