Vice-President Kashim Shettima says Nigeria requires N21 trillion to build 28 million houses to bridge the country’s housing deficit, despite efforts across the three tiers of government.

The vice-president stated this on Sunday in Sokoto at the groundbreaking for the construction of a 500-unit housing estate by the Sokoto government.

Mr Shettima, who commended Governor Ahmed Aliyu for his efforts to address the housing needs of his people, noted that the housing deficit in Nigeria remained a huge challenge.

“Nigeria has a deficit of 28 million houses, and we will need N21 trillion to meet our housing needs. This step taken by the governor is highly commendable and worthy of emulation by other state governments. The governor has started well by completing the roads and flyovers he inherited,” stated Mr Shettima.

The governor explained that the housing estate would be for civil servants and would be sold to them when completed on an owner-occupier basis.

Mr Aliyu said, “This is a project that was initiated by the former governor of the state, Aliyu Wamakko, but was later abandoned by the immediate past administration. But, we are determined to complete it for the benefit of our workers and the general public.”

The Sokoto governor disclosed that the project at Wamakko LGA of the state will cost the state government N7.3 billion. The event, which was to mark the administration’s first 100 days in office, was attended by Aliyu Wamakko and the minister of agriculture and food security, Abubakar Kyari.

Others were the minister of state, water resources and sanitation, Bello Goronyo and former Deputy Governors Mukhtari Shagari and Chiso Abdullahi-Dattijo, among others. 

(NAN)