The Managing Director of the Federal Housing Authority, Oyetunde Ojo, has expressed the agency’s resolve to provide affordable housing for Nigerians.

Mr Ojo made this known on Tuesday when he paid a courtesy visit to the Abia State governor, Alex Otti, in Nvosi, Isiala Ngwa South Local Government Area.

He described shelter as “extremely key” in the lives of people, because after the day’s work everyone must retire to a place for the night.

According to him, provision of affordable housing remains the key mandate of the agency.

He said that research had shown a serious deficiency in the availability of affordable housing for the citizens and the Federal Government was making efforts to address it.

Mr Ojo said that the Renewed Hope Agenda of the Federal Government provided for the operation of a housing initiative.

He said that the initiative would be used to address the affordable housing deficiency in the country.

Mr Ojo said that executing housing schemes without participatory involvement of the people would not adequately solve the problem.

 He added that it was essential to build houses that would adequately meet the peculiar and cultural needs of the people.

Mr Ojo said that under his watch, state governments would be actively involved in the execution of federal housing schemes in their states.

“We don’t just want to take land from you, rather we want to sit down with you and redesign together on the kind of housing that will be in line with the needs and preferences of the people of Abia,” Mr Ojo said.

He said that provision of infrastructure and affordable housing were effective strategies for enhancing deflation.

Mr Ojo said that the housing sector held a lot of potential in creating jobs, adding that the President had deemed it fit to pump in money into this sector to tackle inflation.

He said that the housing project would be handled by local contractors in the state to ensure that the project did not fail.

Mr Ojo also said that the agency was focused on building something  called ”a city in a city”  basically meant to make affordable housing available for people in diaspora.

“We want to synergise with Diaspora Commission, Tourism and Abia Government to execute this project so that people outside could buy this property. We are going on digitalisation whereby Abia people abroad can buy a property in their state from their phone,” Mr Ojo said.

Responding, Mr Otti thanked the Federal Government for the decision to ensure that Nigerians have shelter.

The governor said that plans were underway to commence a housing scheme aimed at providing affordable housing for the people of Abia, especially people in the diaspora.

He also said that the government had already got the location for a housing project tagged “Diaspora Village.’’

Mr Otti added, “Our agenda for evolving the ‘Diaspora Village’ project and provision of affordable housing aligns perfectly with the agency’s vision.’’

He commended the agency for its efforts to ensure active involvement of the government and people of Abia.

Mr Otti further commended the agency for opting to use local contractors for the execution of the project, noting that in the past it was used for political settlement.

“We are very much open to partnering with the federal government on increasing affordable housing for the citizens,” he added.

(NAN)