Bauchi State Governor, Bala Abdulkadir Mohammed has on Saturday lays a ground breaking foundation for the construction of 2,500 affordable housing units worth over N12 billion across the six emirates councils in the state.
Governor Bala said the housing units will be cited across the six emirates council to give each emirate and zone of the state a sense of belonging, which he says will douse the feeling of marginalization.
The governor broke down the housing units to include; 1,500 units at Bauchi Emirate, 350 units at Katagum Emirate while Misau Emirate will get 250 units, Ningi Emirate gets 200 units while Jamaare and Dass Emirates get 100 units each.
The governor said the houses will be constructed amidst demographics challenges fuelled by internally displacement persons who fled the dreaded Boko Haram insurgents.
“I wish to reiterate that, in tandem with our desire to comply with the established building codes and the best practices in Basic Engineering Management and Evaluation. I will in addition to the statutory supervision of the Ministry of Housing, establish a task force in my office for monitoring and evaluation of the projects.
“As part of our effort in regaining the lost glory of our education sector as we address school enrollment, my government is going to rebuild the Government Secondary School Bauchi, an offshoot of the Bauchi Provincial School, in the new city with a view to sustaining the legacy of the school that produced significant quantum of the intellectual capital that Bauchi state is proud of today and beyond.”
“Let me thank Mr President for his kind intervention that led to what we are witnessing today. We call on developers to partner with us to build shopping malls and other facilities in compliance with established procurement standards and global best practices.
The governor who advised the contractors to source for local contents by engaging local trucks owners and youths said the project will be completed within 12 months.
He said the state government in collaboration with the ministry of finance will strictly monitor the project to ensure prudence and compliance.
The minister of finance, budget and national planning, Hajiya Zainab Ahmed Shamshuna who commended Governor Bala Mohammed for giving priority to housing pledged more with the state government to alleviate the suffering of the masses.
Represented by the Ambassador Adamu Jumba, the Minister described the housing unit as a major milestone in the history of Bauchi state.
In his remarks, the Speaker of the Buachi State House of Assembly, Hon. Abubakar Y. Suleiman commended the governor for running an inclusive government that gives every part of the state some sense of belonging.
Suleiman said the state Assembly will continue to give its support to the governor in his quest to develop the state.
Hamisu Muazu Shira, the state commissioner for Housing and Environment explained that the state affordable housing project has a moratorium span of about 4 years while the period of repayment is 12 to 15 years.
“We salute the courage of the indefatigable Executive Governor of Bauchi state, His Excellency, Senator Bala Abdulkadir Mohammed, for his immeasurable leadership vision and administrative foresight, which yielded to this epoch event. This is typical of whose high definition administration; this Infrastructural development could not have been possible.
“The positive economic gains accruable from this project come in chain reactions and connections. A part from the contractors, the artisans and job men would be occupied with daily work opportunities that would translate into improved family economy.
The ceremony was attended by all the emirs of the six emirates councils and other high profile dignitaries.
