In fulfillment of its promise to reduce the housing deficit in Nigeria through affordable housing projects, the Federal Mortgage Bank of Nigeria (FMBN) has revealed that it is set to deliver 800 housing units out of the 1,250 units to be delivered at the Mega City by the end of 2023, while the other 450 units are due for completion by the first quarter of 2024.
This message was revealed when the Bank’s Management, on Wednesday, 8th November, 2023, led the Honourable Minister of Housing and Urban Development, Arc. Ahmed Musa Dangiwa and his team, on an inspection tour of the Brains & Hammers Bungalow City, located at Jibi Village, at the Dei Dei axis of Kubwa Expressway in the FCT.
Addressing newsmen on the sidelines of the tour, Managing Director and Chief Executive of the Bank, Mr. Hamman Madu, revealed that mortgages were already being packaged for off-takers who will occupy the houses.
He also added that the only reason the Bank has delayed the occupation of the homes by beneficiaries is the fact that it wants the Developer to complete all infrastructure and install all necessary facilities that will make the homes comfortable for residents.
“The major challenge we are having is the infrastructure, the buildings are ready but we don’t want to start giving the keys to people when we know there is still some infrastructural work to be done. We also want essential facilities such as schools, markets, worship places, shopping malls, and police posts to be in place so that when the occupiers come in, they do not have to drive several kilometres just to access these basic amenities.
“We have emphasized at various meetings we have had with them that they should pay attention to the infrastructure. Yes, the buildings are ready, but the infrastructure has to be ready as well for off-takers to be able to key in,” he said.
The Minister, in his remarks, expressed satisfaction with the project. He commended the Bank’s Management and urged them to ensure that the developers are timely in the delivery of the houses.
“I have gone round, honestly, I have seen the work, and I am impressed by one thing, that is access. The access has been done really well.That is a major one, because when I came here two years ago, the access was not there. On the construction of houses, I must admit you have gone very far, but I expected these houses to have been completed long before now. But still, at this level, I think all the 1,250 units are on ground, and what is left is the finishes, which must also be done properly.
“But the most critical issue, like the MD said, is the infrastructure. You should immediately start erecting facilities for the use of these 1,250 housing units, because at the time the FMBN was giving you that loan, you said you would provide all those facilities. You said you would provide the schools, the shopping malls, the clinic, the police posts, and the worship places. These are basic facilities,” Dangiwa added.
The Brains & Hammers Bungalow Smart City is one of many mega-city projects the Bank is embarking upon. Apart from the housing units, the estate has its dedicated electricity, overhead and underground water tanks with combined capacity of 842,000 liters, and is expected to have markets, schools, an abattoir, play areas, shopping malls, worship places, and other amenities such as fire hydrants.
