September 01, (THEWILL) – The Minister of Housing and Urban Development, Arc. Ahmed Musa Dangiwa, has said President Bola Tinubu will soon launch the 1,500 Renewed Hope housing units at Unguwar Rimi in Tofa Local Government Area of Kano State.
Dangiwa disclosed this while inspecting the new site for the second phase of the Kano City project on Sunday.
Dangiwa said the President had approved the project and would personally inaugurate the groundbreaking ceremony soon.
He said the project is a significant stride towards addressing Nigeria’s housing deficit.
“This initiative marks a major expansion following the commencement of 500 housing units in Lambu, also within Tofa Local Government Area.
“The Renewed Hope housing scheme is a cornerstone of the Federal Government’s broader urban development strategy, which includes the establishment of model cities across the six geopolitical zones of Nigeria and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja.
“Alongside the upcoming Kano development, similar city projects are planned for Enugu, Nasarawa, Port Harcourt, Lagos, and Maiduguri, ensuring a nationwide impact,” he said.
The Minister also stated that while the 500 housing units at Lambu are being financed through the Ministry’s budget, the more ambitious 1,500-unit development will be executed under a Public-Private Partnership (PPP) arrangement.
This innovative funding model, Dangiwa explained, ensures that private developers bring sufficient capital to the table, guaranteeing the uninterrupted progress of the project.
“We have carefully selected private developers who have demonstrated both the financial capability and technical expertise necessary to deliver a project of this scale. We are confident in their ability to provide high-quality housing units within the stipulated timeline,” he said.
The Minister further emphasised that these housing developments would not only alleviate Kano’s accommodation challenges but also create thousands of jobs for professionals and artisans in the state, thereby boosting local economic growth.
However, after inspecting the ongoing work on the 500 housing units at Lambu, the Minister expressed dissatisfaction with the pace of work, warning the contractor to accelerate efforts or face serious consequences.
“We are not happy with the current level of work on site. You should be much further along than you are now. If there is no significant progress by the time we inspect again next week, we will reassign the uncompleted portions of the project to another contractor,” he warned.
He also reminded the contractor of the need to employ more workers to meet the project’s December deadline.
“We know you have the capacity, which is why you were awarded this job. Many others are eager for such opportunities. By the end of this year, we expect this project to be ready for commissioning,” Dangiwa added.
Abdullahi Yusuf is a seasoned journalist, communicator and was previously the Deputy Editor-In-Chief and Zonal Manager, News Agency of Nigeria, NAN, Jos, where he retired on December 15, 2021
