The Governor of Niger State, Dr. Muazu Babangida Aliyu, is set to flag off the construction of another 1,000 housing units worth over N4.2 billion before the end of this month.
About 500 of the houses made up of 300 (two-bedroom) bungalow and 200 (three-bedroom) units are to be built in Maikunkele, near Minna and Suleja in the Suleja Local Government Area of the state.
The N4.2 billion project is to be handled by an Italian firm, Ital Works Nigeria Limited, under the government’s Public Private Partnership PPP policy.
Since the government came on board in 2007, it has embarked on the construction of numerous housing units in Minna, Bida, Suleja and Kontagora to reduce the problems faced in the search for affordable and liveable houses in the state.
Already, Aliyu has signed the Certificate of Occupancy for the land on which the houses will be constructed, while the construction firm has secured the commitment of some primary mortgage firms and foreign consortium for the funding of the project.
The General Manager of the Niger State Housing Corporation, Alhaji Mohammed Baba Adamu, said the project is one of the steps taken by the government of the Aliyu administration to reduce the housing deficit facing the people in most towns in the state.
Adamu said the state government under the memorandum of understanding signed with the construction firm, will provide the infrastructure at the two locations in addition to government giving the firm all the needed support to ensure the project is completed between nine and 12 months agreed upon.
The Managing Director of Italworks Nigeria Limited, Engineer Crisa Gaetano, said the firm will perform its responsibility up to the expectation of the government and the people of the state.
Apart from delivering quality houses to the people of the state, Engineer Gaetano said the firm will also employ skilled and unskilled labour during the construction, thereby reducing the number of unemployed people in the state.
He disclosed that as part of the social responsibility of the company, it will construct a block of four classrooms with the headmaster’s office at the Maikunkele site in honour of his friend and colleague, Domenico Gyto.
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