The Federal Mortgage Bank of Nigeria has appealed to Enugu State Government to remit funds deducted from workers’ salaries under the National Housing Fund scheme.
The Managing Director of the bank, Ahmed Dangiwa, made the appeal on Monday in Enugu during the inauguration of Jedidiah Gardens, a housing estate built by COPEN Group with support from FMBN.
Dangiwa said the appeal had become necessary for workers in the 17 local government areas of the state to take full advantage of the scheme.
He also appealed to the state government to initiate the construction and upgrade of infrastructure within the precincts of the various housing estates in the state.
The managing director said the bank would continue to encourage home ownership in the South East zone.
Dangiwa said that the FMBN had so far disbursed N152 million to beneficiaries of the scheme from the zone, adding that more were still under consideration.
He disclosed that N74 billion had been disbursed under the scheme to 4.6 million enrollees, including some beneficiaries who had exited.
He said: “The NHF is a mandatory scheme for workers and for you to benefit, you have to be a consistent contributor for six months.”
Dangiwa said that COPEN Group was the only developer in the South East and South South zones to have completed five housing estates for the bank.
He said: “COPEN Group is one of the developers working for us with a view to reducing housing deficit in the country.”
Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi of Enugu State said the state had found a worthy and reliable partner in COPEN Group toward its quest to provide affordable housing to residents of the state.
Ugwuanyi said his administration would continue to create an enabling environment for businesses to thrive in the state.
The governor commended FMBN for the commitment at ensuring the development of housing estates in the state.
The Group Managing Director of COPEN Group, Rev. Ugochukwu Chime, said the development of the estate was fraught with challenges but thanked God it came to fruition.
Chime said the company was poised to empower youths from the host communities.
