By Ella Anokam

The Federal Government (FG) has described the ongoing implementation of the National Housing Programme (NHP) as a demonstration of its political will to deliver critical infrastructure in the country.

The Minister of State, Power, Works and Housing, Mr Mustapha Shehuri made this known while on inspection tour of the Housing project sites in the West geo-political region, at Kwakwa, near Katsina.

According to a statement signed by Mrs Eno Olotu, Assistant Director, Information (Housing), on Wednesday in Abuja, the minister commended the efforts of the Muhammadu Buhari led administration for fulfilling its promises.

“The NHP is a demonstration of the political will of the administration to deliver on critical infrastructure in fulfillment of its election promise to Nigerians.

“The programme will have direct impact on people as many professionals, contractors, artisans and vendors are engaged in the value chain,” he said.

The minister expressed satisfaction at the speed and level of work at the site, noting that the contractors are quite on schedule to meet the completion date of the project.

He assured the contractors that government was committed to addressing whatever complaints they have at the moment especially on the issue of delayed payments and the supply of products.

The minister appealed to the contractors and other workers to see the issues as the “teething problems” associated with initial projects of this magnitude and promised that such would be resolved as the programme progresses.

One of the contractors, APLS Global Link Ltd, Mr Martins Nnodu, who spoke on behalf of others, applauded government on the implementation of the housing programme.

He said that it was a welcome development in addressing the poverty rate in the country as it has created jobs and employment for Nigerians.

He, however, appealed to the minister to compel relevant authorities to facilitate prompt payment of contractors as well as resolve issues bothering on specifications of the building materials, saying that it was slowing down the pace of work.

Zonal Co-ordinator of the Programme for the North-West in the Ministry, Mr Mohammed Dadi, while briefing the Minister said, Kastina was a pace setter in the programme.

He noted that the contractors have shown great commitment to meeting up with the timelines for completion of the houses.

The site has a total of 76 units comprising of four units of one Bedroom, 48 units of two Bedrooms and 24 units of three Bedrooms.

Also, 19 contractors are handling the projects, while over 1,454 labourers are engaged at the site and 112 food vendors with 80 suppliers supplying various building materials to the site.

According to the statement, the  minister  also inspected the site at Dutse, Jigawa State, where he expressed satisfaction with the work so far done at the site and urged the contractors not to relent on their efforts to deliver.

He said the Federal Government was committed to reducing the housing deficit in the country.

Shehuri implored Nigerians to continue to support the government’s effort in delivering democratic dividends, especially in the housing sector.

A total of 76 housing units are also being constructed comprising: four units, one Bedroom, 48 units, two Bedroom and 24 units, three Bedrooms in Jigawa too