Three Years On: Governor Bago Providing Affordable Housing, Others In Niger

Niger State Government has acknowledged the necessity to expedite the completion of the 5-star Hotel in Minna, the state capital, as a necessary component of the Urban Renewal Programs of the administration.

The state Governor, Farmer Umaru Mohammed Bago while marking his Third Anniversary in office, said the road projects, urbanization and expected economic prosperity of the state would naturally attract the influx of local and international investors and others.

The Farmer Governor, who spoke through his Chief Press Secretary, Malam Bologi Ibrahim, also stated that the totality of the Urban Renewal concept would not be complete without a befitting 5-star Hotel in the state capital and other major cities in the state.

Farmer Umaru Mohammed Bago disclosed that work is progressing on the revitalized 5-star Hotel in Minna, adding that its eventual completion would make the state capital a new destination for business activities, hospitality and tourism in northern Nigeria.

The Farmer Governor Bago stated that his administration has recorded unprecedented achievements in the Housing Sector in line with the New Niger Agenda of building a livable, sustainable and prosperous Niger State.

“We are actively integrating housing developments with broad urban renewal programs, providing upgraded social amenities like water, power and renewable energy through a robust private partnership and investment”, he added.

As part of deliberate strategy, the Farmer Governor said the housing agenda of the administration is heavily focused on mass housing construction in order to tackle housing deficit in the state.

Farmer Umaru Bago noted that, in past three years, the following milestones have been achieved including the continuation of work on the 3-Arms Zone initiated to house the offices and official residences of the three arms of government and their members within one area for effective governance.

Continuation of the three arms zone project also include the farmer governor’s initiative of additional 42 units of duplex in addition to what was inherited

“We have provided 31 hectares of prime land in the New Minna City, within the 3 Arms Zone, to the Federal Housing Authority free of charge. The State Government not only donated the land free but also paid compensation to reduce project cost, with the benefit to be passed to citizens through reduced house prices.

Farmer governor Mohammed Umaru Bago equally achieved a fifty units Executive bungalows and another 100 housing units comprising twenty units of three bedrooms and eighty units of two bedrooms close to Bola Ahmed Tinubu International Airport Minna.

Additionally, there are ongoing 520 units of mixed bungalows, high-rise and duplex housing development at Tutungo after Chanchaga Bridge along Minna Suleja road

The Government has also set aside a sinking fund and is committed to off-taking 100% of the 10,000 housing units to be built for low-income earners and civil servants across the 25 Local Government Areas in the state”.

Worried by the plight of thousands of IDPs living in makeshift camps, the state government flagged-off the IDPs Resettlement Housing Project to construct modern homes in Shiroro Local Government Are. The pilot phase is located in Gurusu .

The government, he said, has procured modern block-moulding equipment from South Africa and secured land from the Minna Emirate for the project aimed at closing IDP camps and resettling our people in dignity, with complementary rehabilitation of schools, roads, markets and hospitals, adding that the long-term plan is to deliver 100,000 housing units for victims of flood and insecurity in the state.

“We need to construct more houses, and that’s why the state government is working with the UNDP and other partners to open up new settlements and close all IDP camps. The aim is to provide more than just shelter, but a comprehensive support system for them to rebuild their lives”.

He said the people-centered project prioritizes the welfare of the IDPs, providing a path to full reintegration and a brighter future.

Farmer Governor Bago also announced the signing of a historic, and ‘first-of-its-kind’ Memorandum of Understanding(MoU) with the Federal Ministry of Finance and Ministry of Finance Incorporated (MOFI) for the Sustainable Integrated Productive Communities (SIPC) programme.

The State, as one of pilot states, has provided 100,000 hectares of land with Certificate of Occupancy to the Federal Government for revolutionary model project that will integrate mass affordable housing with large-scale agriculture, renewable energy, water and rural infrastructure, allowing farmers to live within secure, functional communities where they work.

Farmer Umaru Bago also spoke on the revived and strengthened strategic partnership with the Federal Mortgage Bank of Nigeria (FMBN), to unlock mortgage financing for workers.

He said the administration has created a sinking fund to gradually clear inherited debts owed the Bank stressing that the renewed partnership has yielded positive results as the FMBN is financing over 700 housing units through 12 projects worth N3.7 billion in the state, and also disbursing over N2 billion to 2,420 civil servants under the Home Renovation Loan Scheme.

FMBN has also offered two additional housing estates for outright purchase for immediate allocation to the state workforce.

Governor Bago disclosed that the State Government, in show of solidarity and support to our galant security forces, has allocated 1,000 hectares of land to the Nigerian Army Post-Service Housing Development Limited, for housing development for its retired personnel.

Farmer Governor Bago says his administration remains committed to making the state a model for affordable, climate-friendly and inclusive housing delivery, adding that housing is not just about buildings, it is about security, dignity, productivity and prosperity for all the  residents of Niger state.