NEWS AGENCY OF NIGERIA
General News

Real estate firms partner Nasarawa Govt. to build commercial city in Karshi

112 total views today

By Patricia Amogu

A real estate development firm, Ama-Davids Nigeria Limited, has announced plans to collaborate with its partners and the Nasarawa State Government to develop a commercial city in Karshi.

The Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of the firm, Mr Ibrahim Arasah, made this known during a series of courtesy visits to top government officials in the state.

Arasah stated that the commercial city project would create employment opportunities, attract foreign investment, foster a business-friendly environment, and enhance the well-being of the people.

“We commend the great work being done by the Nasarawa State Governor, Engr. Abdullahi Sule, particularly in infrastructural development, political stability, and security.

“Ama-Davids Nigeria Limited is deeply committed to improving the well-being of the people, and our projects are designed with this in mind.

“Our initiatives, including the Karshi Central Market, which is currently under consideration by the governor, as well as the automobile city project, have been carefully planned to be people-centric.

“All our projects are aimed at enhancing the lives of the people and ensuring sustainability beyond our generation.

“The Commercial City Standard Market will be the first of its kind in Africa. It will be an expansive business hub, integrating various sectors such as agro-markets, fashion and textiles, furniture showrooms, media, and many other enterprises.

“For over 32 years, we have been active in this field. As knowledge expands and technology evolves, we are continuously enhancing our expertise and development strategies to align with global standards and the 21st-century needs of our people,” he said.

Amb. David Oladeinde, CEO of Diamond House 67 Concept, called Nasarawa State the future of Nigeria, citing its vast mineral resources and immense potential.

“Nasarawa State stands out in many ways, perhaps due to its international exposure.

“The Governor is making significant progress across multiple sectors, and I believe the Nasarawa State of today is vastly different from the past. He is actively improving road infrastructure, security, and overall development.

“Nasarawa State is the future of Nigeria. It has the largest deposits of solid minerals in the country.

“Nigeria has yet to tap even 10 per cent of its solid mineral resources. We have focused too much on oil and gas, yet this year, we have the potential to generate billions of dollars from other resources.

“This project will not only transform Nasarawa State but also have a far-reaching impact at the federal and state levels, as well as across the West African sub-region”.

Dr Victor Abidoye, Chairman and CEO of Vikolu Universal Concept Limited, one of the project’s financiers, remarked that initiatives such as the commercial city project would unlock vast opportunities for Nigeria and Africa as a whole.

According to him, these developments would empower young people to overcome poverty and help reduce the housing deficit in the country.

He urged the government to support the project to provide entrepreneurs in the state with a conducive space to operate.

“A new urban centre is what we are building, and we hope the state government will give us the necessary support,” he added.

In response, Mr Abdullahi Salihu-Ari, Vice President of Strategy and Innovation at the Nasarawa Investment and Development Agency (NASIDA), commended the project partners for their efforts and their belief in the state’s potential.

“We recognise that there are 36 states in the country, and these projects could have been taken elsewhere,” he said.

Senior Analyst at NASIDA, Mr Imam Rabiu, stated that the agency was making every effort to ensure the project becomes a reality.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Ama-Davids Nigeria Limited is the proponent of the Karshi Central Market/Commercial City, the Automobile City, the Million House Project, and the Karshi Century Park. (NAN)

Edited by Emmanuel Yashim

Metro

Why many civil servants can’t afford mass housing – REDAN 

204 total views today

By Angela Atabo

Real Estate Developers Association of Nigeria (REDAN) says high mortgage interest rates pose a significant obstacle to housing affordability, particularly for low-income civil servants.

The REDAN President, Mr Akintoye Adeoye, made this known in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Tuesday in Abuja.

Adeoye raised concerns over the soaring mortgage rates in the country, stating that it has become nearly impossible for low-income earners to own homes.

According to him, mass houses are being built by members of REDAN across the country at low-cost housing estates in various states.

He, however, said that in spite of REDAN’s contributions to mass housing, many low-income civil servants still struggle to afford homes due to several key challenges.

“Mortgage rates in Nigeria are typically above 20 per cent, making it nearly impossible for low-income earners to afford home loans.

“REDAN has continuously advocated for reduced mortgage rates, ideally around two to six per cent to enhance affordability and increase home-ownership among civil servants.

“However, the current financial climate still makes it difficult for many to secure affordable financing,” he said.

The REDAN President noted that, at the moment, the Federal Mortgage Bank of Nigeria (FMBN) is the only institution that offers affordable mortgages at six per cent.

He said that was why REDAN consistently called for the bank’s recapitalisation to enable it to access more funds and provide affordable mortgages for Nigerians.

“If there is any major issue affecting housing today, mortgage accessibility will rank first.

“Without a functional and accessible mortgage system, many Nigerians will continue to be unable to afford homes.

“An inadequate supply of affordable housing finance remains a major challenge in the real estate sector.

“Without access to low-interest funding, developers are compelled to depend on costly commercial loans, which significantly raise the price of housing units,” he said.

He said the situation has not only put financial strain on developers but also discouraged large-scale investment in mass housing projects.

The REDAN President added that lack of accessible mortgage options has further worsened the challenge of housing affordability for civil servants,

“The National Housing Fund (NHF) offers low-interest mortgage loans, but many civil servants either do not meet the eligibility criteria or experience long delays in securing funds.

“This challenge is also attributed to FMBN’s limited liquidity for NHF loan disbursement.“Low salary structures often make it difficult for civil servants to meet mortgage requirements, leaving many unable to afford home ownership.

“As a result of these factors, numerous low-income civil servants are left without viable housing solutions, notwithstanding REDAN’s continuous efforts to address the housing deficit,” he said

Adeoye said addressing the challenges required a multi-faceted approach, including recapitalisation of FMBN, policy reforms and increased government support for real estate developers.

Other approaches, according to him are, enhanced financing options for both developers and homebuyers, lowering mortgage rates and streamlining land acquisition processes.

Adeoye reiterated that, improving access to affordable housing finance is a critical step toward making homeownership a reality for low-income civil servants. (NAN)

Edited by Rotimi Ijikanmi

General News

PPDC partners Shelta Panacea to promote affordable housing for Nigerians

207 total views today

By Jacinta Nwachukwu

The Public and Private Development Centre (PPDC), an NGO, has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Shelta Panacea Ltd. to improve access to justice and promote affordable housing for Nigerians.

The Chief Executive Officer of PPDC, Ms Lucy Abagi, who said this on Wednesday in Abuja, said the partnership also aimed at providing free legal services to 10,000 landlords across Nigeria.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Shelta Panacea Ltd. is a Property Tech company dedicated to solving the common problem that exists between property owners and property users.

PPDC is a non-profit organisation committed to improving citizen’s participation in governance in a way that improves the integrity of public governance processes, fostering transparent and accountable governance.

Abagi said the centre’s programme interventions would address both the demand and the supply side, saying that the ‘demand side’ refers to the users of the public sector.

She said that the ‘supply side’, refers to those institutions, organisations and individuals that provide public services.

According to her, this is to ensure increased compliance, improved landlord/tenant relationships, reduced disputes and increased property values.

Abagi noted that well-informed landlords were more likely to maintain their property, adhere to safety standards and make necessary repairs as well as support for small landlords.

“The PPDC Access to Justice Programme has successfully provided free legal services to more than 9,000 Nigerians.

“The group, which has strengthened justice sector reforms, will leverage on its technological legal innovations and network of lawyers to support Shelta Panacea’s mission.

“PPDC will play a critical role in recruiting, supervising and ensuring fair remuneration for lawyers handling these cases.

“PPDC has always been committed to ensuring access to justice for all, particularly for vulnerable and marginalised groups.

“This collaboration with Shelta Panacea allows us to extend our expertise beyond the criminal justice space to civil disputes,” she added.

The partnership, she said, would ensure that landlords who might otherwise struggle with prolonged legal battles could access professional legal representation at no cost.

On his part, the Chief Executive Officer, Shelta Panacea, Mr Austin Igwe, recalled that the organisation had years ago started the project to solve the problem that existed between property owners and property users.

“We’ve discovered that Nigeria is one of the few countries in the world where you earn monthly, and this is the basis most likely for the challenge that has happened between landlords and tenants.

“This has actually led to so many deficits, delays in payments and countless court cases between landlords and tenants”, Igwe said.

He cited some cases in which the landlords wanted to take their rent annually while the tenant wanted to pay their rent flexibly.

He added that the purpose of the initiative was to help solve the problem by providing the technology.

According to him, the organisation has been able to provide a system that guarantees the rent on the landlord annually just the way he wants it.

“It also helps to provide a bridge for the tenant, to also choose the payment at his or her convenience.

“This flexibility has helped to eradicate, to a large extent, nearly 100 per cent of the issues that have existed between the landlords and the tenants.

“The organisation is managing some housing property across 14 states in Nigeria and intends to extend the service to other states’’, he said.(NAN)

Edited by Francis Onyeukwu/Deji Abdulwahab

General News

Expert calls for affordable, revolving housing finance

252 total views today

By Naomi Sharang

The Chief Executive Officer of NISH Affordable Housing Ltd., Dr Saheed Adelakun, has called for a sustainable, affordable, and revolving housing finance mechanism to address Nigeria’s housing deficit.

Speaking at the 7th Nigeria Affordable Housing Finance and Innovation Summit and Expo (NAHFIS 2024) in Abuja on Monday, Adelakun described the housing deficit as a pressing national issue.

He stressed the need to establish sustainable housing finance systems for Nigerians.

At the summit, themed ‘Disrupting Housing Finance for Inclusive Development’, Adelakun emphasised that housing is one of humanity’s basic needs.

“If you solve the housing needs of people, you would have done a lot of good, not only for the people but for the government and the economy.

“This is because the economy itself can be capitalised by housing development, so that is what moved us to start this event seven years ago,” he said.

He praised the government’s “renewed hope housing policy” and its potential to address the housing crisis, noting “We cannot leave everything to the government, and that’s the role we are trying to play”.

Adelakun explained that the strategic goal of NAHFIS is to develop solutions to meet the housing needs of low- and middle-income earners through innovative approaches.

“If Nigeria is to rapidly deliver affordable housing at scale, there is an urgent need to optimise the traditional mortgage housing finance model”.

In his remarks, the Chairman of the occasion, Prof. Ibrahim Gambari, former Chief of Staff to President Muhammadu Buhari, urged greater collaboration among housing finance institutions.

“I urge prospective homeowners to enhance their access to decent homes by imbibing the cooperative culture of self-help.

“Through membership of housing cooperatives, off-takers can aggregate savings, obtain housing loans at moderate costs, eliminate or reduce risks associated with middlemen, and secure equity payments,” Gambari said.

Glen Jordan, the CEO of Empowa, challenged the assumption that poverty is the root cause of the housing crisis.

“It is assumed that poverty creates this lack of housing, but it’s not poverty. It’s actually the financial systems that are not fit for purpose.

“We have imported structures, policies, and procedures from the developed world that are not applicable for Africa. So, it’s time for change.

“It’s time for us to introduce new mechanisms, new funding processes, and new technologies that meet the needs of Africans and Nigerians,” he said.

Mark Weinrich, Secretary General of the International Union for Housing Finance in Germany, highlighted the need to reduce housing costs for citizens.

“The reduction of the cost of capital is an issue to address. If the cost of capital remains high, we will never overcome the challenge of housing because it requires such a significant investment.

“There are international experiences in some countries which have proven to work really well that could also fit for Nigeria,” he said.

The summit focused on exploring innovative strategies to tackle Nigeria’s housing deficit while promoting inclusive development. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Ifeyinwa Okonkwo and Rotimi Ijikanmi

General News

Housing: Bankers say FG’s N250bn mortgage fund game changer

286 total views today

 

By Ismail Abdulaziz

The Mortgage Banking Association of Nigeria (MBAN) says the Federal Government’s N250 billion Mortgage and Real Estate Investment Fund (MREIF) will change the face of housing accessibility in the country.

 

It added that it was a strategic intervention towards addressing the huge housing deficit and revitalising the mortgage banking subsector.

 

The President of MBAN, Mr Ebilate Mac-Yoroki and the secretary, Dr Adedeji Ajadi, disclosed this in a statement on Monday in Abuja.

 

MBAN is the bona fide Self-Regulatory Organisation (SRO) and umbrella body for all the mortgage banks licensed by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and the mortgage brokerage companies registered by the association to engage in mortgage business.

 

They described the initiative as a demonstration of a strong political will towards providing access to long-term and sustainable mortgage banking/housing finance to Nigerians.

 

“The initiative aligns with the federal government’s objective to tackle the significant housing deficit in Nigeria, while stimulating economic growth and employment creation in the mortgage banking and real estate/housing construction value-chain.

 

“The N250 billion MREI-Fund is structured to attract private sector and capital market long-term investments from pension funds operators (PFO) and life insurance companies, which would be blended with low-cost seed funding provided by the government.

 

“This innovative financing model would act as catalysts in the provision of mortgages at interest rates hovering around the single digit, with repayment tenor up to 20 years, thereby offering much-needed relief to prospective home-owners, currently burdened by high interest rates and affordability issues.

 

“This development underscores the importance of public-private collaboration in addressing critical national challenges, such as affordable housing.

 

“MBAN remains committed to working closely with the federal government and other stakeholders to achieve sustainable housing solutions for Nigerians.”

 

The association commended President Bola Tinubu, for the life-saving initiative towards home ownership and rent-to-own finance in Nigeria.

 

It also lauded the Minister of Housing and Urban Development, Ahmed Dangiwa and the Managing Director, Federal Mortgage Bank of Nigeria, Shehu Osidi, for driving the Tinubu administration’s housing sector vision.

 

The association encouraged all Nigerians to seize the unique opportunity to have access to affordable mortgages, fulfil their dreams of home ownership and contribute to narrowing the housing gap.

 

“Please, be assured that the members of mortgage banks and mortgage brokerage companies of MBAN are poised to facilitate this process, ensuring that the benefits of this transformative fund drill down to each of those who need it the most.”(NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Muhyideen Jimoh

General News

FG pledges affordable housing for low-income Nigeriens

391 total views today

By Ahmed Musa/Angela Atabo

Minister of Housing and Urban Development, Ahmed Dangiwz has stated the Federal Government’s commitment to provide affordable housing for low-income earners in Nigeria.

Dangiwa said this at an event to mark the 2024 World Habitat Day in Abuja on Thursday.

The World Habitat Day is a day set aside by the United Nations to promote a better urban future.

The theme of the day is: “Engaging Youth to create a better urban future and Youth leading climate and local action for cities”.

Dangiwa said the government focused on policies to support lower-income individuals via the National Social Housing Fund, aimed at assisting Nigerians in accessing affordable housing.

He said the policy targeting youth involvement in climate resilience and urban development, to ensure active youth participation and promote inclusive, resilient and sustainable cities.

The minister underscored the importance of addressing urbanisation challenges, raising awareness about housing needs, and providing sustainable urban shelter.

According to him, sustainable development is a shared responsibility, requiring the incorporation of youth perspectives into urban planning and development.

“The Federal Government is taking steps to address the housing deficit, investing in housing and infrastructure under President Bola Tinubu’s renewed hope cities and estate programme.

“The programme aims to build 50,000 housing units in phase one, with construction underway across 14 states.

“A workshop on green building, in collaboration with the World Bank, was also initiated to incorporate sustainable climate practices into housing projects.”

Dangiwa reitrated government’s commitment to implement policies to support urban regeneration, improve housing finance systems and enhance the National Urban Governance Framework.

Mr Shehu Osidi, Managing Director, Federal Mortgage Bank of Nigeria (FMBN), said the bank would continued to provide affordable housing loans to young Nigerians, support institutions as well as contribute to the growth and transformation of urban centres. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Abiemwense Moru

Metro

Tinubu approves owner-occupier housing scheme for judges in FCT

726 total views today

By Philip Yatai

President Bola Tinubu has approved owner-occupier housing scheme for judges in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

FCT Minister Nyesom Wike stated this at the groundbreaking of 40 housing units Judges’ Quarters project, at Katampe District, Abuja on Monday.

The 40 housing units was for judicial officers of the Court of Appeal, Federal High Court and FCT High Court.

Wike said that 70 per cent of the project’s budget, which covers furnishing has been provided, adding that the contractor was expected to hand over the completed project in 15 months.

The gesture,  he said, was part of ongoing efforts to improve the welfare of judicial officers in the country in line with Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda.

He said that Tinubu was working tirelessly to ensure the independence of the judiciary, through improved welfare packages and condition of service.

The minister said that another condition of service that was very critical in insulating the judiciary from interference and manipulation by the executive and legislative arms of government was housing.

Wike said the president had approved the owner-occupier housing for the judges so they could have their own home at retirement.

“With that, it will be difficult for anybody to manipulate or interfere with their duties. When you have a home, what are you afraid of?

“When you know that salaries and allowances will be paid when you are retired, when you know that your tenure of office is guaranteed, anybody would be firm, anybody would be courageous to do his work or her work,” he said.

Wike said the gesture was also part of FCT Administration’s efforts to render services to every Nigerian, who comes to FCT to carry out businesses or want to reside in Abuja.

He said that 20 additional houses would be provided in 2025 to the FCT judiciary and the Industrial Court, so they could also benefit from the Renewed Hope Agenda.

The minister explained that the land, upon which the houses would be built was revoked from Julius Berger for failing to develop it, 20 years after it was allocated to the company.

The Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun, lauded the gesture, describing it as a significant milestone in the federal government and FCT Administration’s efforts to enhance the welfare of judicial officers in the territory.

According to her, the judiciary plays a critical role in safeguarding the rule of law, upholding justice and protecting the rights of citizens.

“In fulfilling this rule, judicial officers must have the right tools and environments to carry out their duties with independence, impartiality and integrity.

“Beyond the courtroom, a supportive and conducive living environment is essential to the ability of judicial officers to focus on the heavy responsibilities entrusted to them.

“Judicial officers require peace of mind, security and comfort in their residences to fully dedicate themselves to the rigorous task of interpreting and applying the law.

Kekere-Ekun said that the construction of the houses was a practical step towards ensuring that judicial officers were well supported.

She said that the houses would provide a secure and tranquil environment, enabling the judicial officers to perform their duties with greater focus, efficiency and clarity of mind.

“By making this investment, the FCT Administration has demonstrated a commendable understanding of the unique needs of the judiciary,” she said.

Also, Dr Mariya Mahmoud, the Minister of State, FCT, described Wike’s commitment towards enhancing infrastructure for the judiciary as “invaluable and inspiring”.

Mahmoud urged for stakeholders’ support to create a space that reflects the nation’s values and commitment to justice. (NAN)

Edited by Rabiu Sani-Ali

X
Welcome to NAN
Need help? Choose an option below and let me be your assistant.
Email SubscriptionSite SearchSend Us Email