Governor Mai Mala Buni of Yobe has urged the Federal Ministry of Housing and Urban Development to reduce the prices of its 208 housing units in Damaturu by 50 per cent.

Mr Buni, who spoke through his media aide Mamman Mohammed, made the plea in an interview with journalists in Damaturu on Saturday.

According to Mr Buni, the state government will purchase all the houses if the federal government approves the 50 per cent discount.

He said the houses would be allocated to persons displaced by the Boko Haram insurgency on an owner-occupier basis.

Mr Buni said his administration has constructed 2,350 housing units across the state, which have been allocated to insurgency victims.

“As you are aware, Yobe has suffered from 10 years of insurgency that resulted in the destruction of public and private property and the displacement of thousands of people,” he said.

The governor also called on the Minister of Housing, Ahmed Dangiwa, to engage building materials vendors and local contractors in Yobe to execute the FG’s Renewed Hope City project in the state.

“Kindly consider our local contractors, building materials merchants, and artisans to source materials and manpower locally to further give our people a sense of belonging and ownership of the Renewed Hope agenda.

“This is to create employment opportunities, contribute to the local economy, and fast-track the recovery programme,” he said.

Mr Buni charged the host communities to showcase their renowned culture of hospitality and cooperation to the contractors to ensure the timely and successful completion of the project. 

(NAN)