The Minister of Housing and Urban Development, Ahmed Dangiwa, has said the ministry is to build 250 housing units in Osun State.

Mr Dangiwa disclosed this during the groundbreaking ceremony of the project on Tuesday in Osogbo.

Mr Dangiwa said that the housing projects were under the Renewed Hope Cities and Estates Programme of the ministry.

The minister said that the estate would comprise 50 units of one bedroom semi-detached bungalows, 150 units of two-bedroom semi-detached bungalows, and 50 units of three-bedroom semi-detached bungalows.

Mr Dangiwa added that the housing units were projected to be completed in the next three months.

He explained that the housing programme was launched in February by President Bola Tinubu, with the inauguration of 3,112 housing units in Karsana, Abuja.

He stated, “Under phase one of this programme, we plan to deliver a total of 50,000 housing units across Nigeria.

“This will include seven ‘Renewed Hope Cities’ that will have between 500 and 1,000 housing units per site in each of the six geopolitical zones and the FCT. The Renewed Hope Estates will have 250 units per site in the remaining 30 states.’’

Mr Dangiwa said that the housing project was also aimed at unlocking the massive potential of housing development, creating jobs, uplifting lives, and boosting economic development in line with the Renewed Hope Agenda of the president.

According to him, the project is also to stimulate inclusive growth, lift 100 million Nigerians out of poverty, and build a $1 trillion economy.”

The minister said that in order to make the houses affordable, different options had been provided to enable everyone who had a source of income and livelihood to own them when they were completed.

“These include single-digit mortgage loans that beneficiaries can repay over 30 years, rent-to-own schemes provided by the Federal Mortgage Bank of Nigeria, and outright purchase options for those who can afford to pay upfront,” he said.

Mr Dangiwa thanked Governor Ademola Adeleke of Osun State for providing land for the housing project in the state at no cost.

In his remarks, Mr Adeleke said his administration was running a housing expansion agenda with a view to providing affordable houses in the 30 local government areas of the state.

He added that the federal housing project would complement the state government’s efforts.

Mr Adeleke, represented by his deputy, Kola Adewusi, said that by providing housing across the country, Mr Tinubu had demonstrated his resolve to bridge the housing gap and promote economic growth in all regions of the country.

(NAN)