Following the launch of the National Housing Programme, NHP, the federal government is yet to receive applications from about 20 states.
Portal for the housing programme comprising of one, two and three bedroom apartments for sale at prices ranging from N7.2million to N13million, was opened at the Headquarters of the Federal Ministry of Works and Housing in Mabushi area of Abuja, penultimate Friday.
Updating members of the Senate Committee on Housing on progress made so far on the programme during 2022 budget defence, the Minister of Works and Housing, Mr. Babatunde Fashola, said that a total of 7, 315 applications from prospective house owners across 16 states were received within six days after the programme was launched by the federal government.
“The applications received so far from prospective house owners are about 2, 315 higher than the available 5,000 housing units available for now.
“This is even as applications have not been received from Nigerian workers in about 20 states,” he explained.
Fashola disclosed that the current housing programme is a pilot or demonstration scheme meant, among others, to galvanize private sector participation.
On housing deficit, the minister told the committee chaired by Senator Sam Egwu that solution to it is not just on building of houses, but marketing the empty ones.
He added that the housing programme had not succeeded in the past as some of the houses built then still remain empty due to cultural or financial factors.