By Oyintutu Oyinkolade
The Family Homes Funds Ltd. (FHFL), in partnership with the Nigeria Police Trust Fund (NPTF), on Wednesday performed the groundbreaking ceremony for the construction of 257 housing units for police officers in Grand Luvu, Masaka, Nasarawa State.
The Managing Director of FHFL, Mr AbdulMutallab Mukhtar, said the project was designed to provide affordable homes for police officers and their families.
Mukhtar, represented by the Executive Director of Operations, FHFL, Dr Emeka Henry, said the estate would comprise two and three-bedroom houses, adding that the organisation was committed to delivering the project within the agreed timeline.
“Today, we break ground to deliver 257 affordable homes for police personnel and their families here at Masaka, beginning with 50 units.
“The estate will offer two and three bedrooms and a construction expected to be completed within nine months.
“We are very mindful of timing and we are going to deliver on this timing and we are very certain,” he said.
He said the initiative brought together government institutions and private sector partners to provide affordable housing and create employment opportunities.
According to him, FHFL will facilitate construction, while NPTF will provide the infrastructure required for the project.
“Together, we combine private investment and expertise with institutional support to deliver quality, affordable housing while ensuring that jobs are created,” he said.
He stressed that the partnership would extend beyond Masaka to existing FHFL estates in Ogun and Kaduna states, as well as new locations across the country’s geopolitical zones.
In his remarks, the Executive Secretary of NPTF, Mr Mohammed Sheidu, said the project reflected the commitment of both organisations to improving the welfare of police officers.
Sheidu said providing decent accommodation was essential to ensuring that officers could carry out their duties effectively.
He said the project would help ensure that police officers had access to affordable homes for themselves and their families.
“At the Nigeria Police Trust Fund, we recognise that effective policing requires more than operational equipment and training. It also requires a motivated workforce whose basic welfare needs are adequately addressed.
“Our objective is simple: to ensure that officers who dedicate their lives to protecting our communities have access to decent and affordable houses for themselves and their families,” he said.
He said the NPTF planned to identify additional locations across the country where similar housing projects could be developed for police personnel.
Sheidu commended the Federal Government, Nasarawa State Government, Inspector-General of Police and private sector partners for supporting the initiative.
Also speaking, Osifo Emefile, Commissioner of Police, who also serves as Head of the Training, Welfare and Training Institutions Development Department, NPTF, said adequate housing was essential to the welfare and effectiveness of police officers.
Emefile said access to decent and affordable housing would provide officers with stability and peace of mind, enabling them to perform their duties more effectively.
“A police officer who is assured of a decent place to live is better positioned to concentrate on professional responsibilities, improve productivity and discharge duties with commitment.
“Therefore, investment in police housing is not merely a welfare intervention, it is also an investment in national security, institutional effectiveness and public safety,” he said.
Emefile said the project followed a Memorandum of Understanding between FHFL and NPTF to address the housing needs of police personnel.
He urged the stakeholders to ensure that the project was implemented according to the agreed specifications, quality standards and timelines.
The Inspector-General of Police, Mr Olatunji Disu, represented by ACP Tunde Kabiru, Karu Area Commander, commended FHFL and NPTF for their partnership.
Disu urged the developers to maintain their established standards and ensure that the houses were delivered as agreed. (NAN)
Edited by Deji Abdulwahab
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