Business

FG opens portal for sale of 5,000 housing units

Published

2 years ago

November 13, 2021

Minister of Works and Housing, Mr. Babatunde Fashola

Over 5,000 houses are up for sale across 34 states of the federation built by the Federal Government, Minister of Works and Housing, Mr. Babatunde Fashola, has said.
He said Nigerians could now apply for the houses built under the current Federal Government’s National Housing Programme (NHP) after the launch of the portal on Friday.
He spoke at the formal launch of the portal, https:// nhp.worksandhousing.gov.ng.
According to him, the available 5,000 plus housing units range from 1, 2 to 3 bedroom bungalows and blocks of flats in any location of their choice.
The ceremony was attended by prominent stakeholders and media executives including the President, Nigeria Guild of Editors, Mr. Mustapha Isah. Fashola said the decision by the ministry to sell the available houses online was to bring credibility to the exercise and reduce human intervention as well as give all categories of buyers a level playing field.
The minister said, “We converge here just to introduce a portal on which the National Housing Programme pilot will be offered for sale to the public. What that means is that we will not be selling printed forms, the forms are online and this allows for more openness, limits human intervention and any disposition to any underhand practice”.

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Clarifying that the decision to adopt online sale of forms and limit human intervention was not an indictment of the staff, he added, “It is just to make the system more accountable and people seeing credibility if they win and if they are not successful they will equally know that the system has at least given them a fair chance”.
Fashola, who described the launch of the portal as “the end game of our economic objective”, explained that the government did not just set out to build houses, adding that the project has served many purposes, the first of which was to test what sort of houses Nigerians would like to live in so as to make policies to guide its agencies and parastatals, as well as other stakeholders, to build what could be acceptable in the markets.
“We are the policy head of those parastatals like the Federal Housing Authority (FHA), the Federal Mortgage Bank of Nigeria (FMBN) and so on. We are saying that the National Housing Programme had not succeeded in the past and some of the houses built then still remain empty. So we conducted a national survey across the zones just to find out what is acceptable”, the Minister said.
The findings, he said, were that while in the Northern part of the country there was preference for bungalow and large expanse of land which encouraged building horizontally, in the Southern part, there seemed to be acceptance for blocks of flats and lack of space which made building vertically necessary.
Emphasizing that the current National Housing Programme is a pilot or demonstration scheme meant, among others, to galvanize private sector participation, Fashola explained further, “We applied for land from the states and we set out to do a demonstration or a pilot programme because we then wanted to validate what we saw and build a pilot scheme”.
“So as at today we have built 5,000 plus units in different stages of completion. We have done in Phase 1 and we have done in Phase 2 and some have started in Phase 3”, the Minister reiterated adding that the other purpose the scheme has served was to fulfil part of the objectives of the administration’s Economic Recovery and Growth Plan (ERGP).
He added, “It was also a way to implement our Economic Recovery and Growth Plan (ERGP) because as at the time we conceived this programme, the country was in recession”, expressing delight that it has fulfilled that objective because over 1,000 contractors were engaged on the building sites; “businesses owned by Nigerians and Nigerian contractors”.
Pointing out that no foreign contractor was engaged in the project, Fashola added that it was not only an opportunity for nation building but an opportunity for the contractors to sustain their staff.
In his goodwill message after the launch, President of the Nigerian Guild of Editors (NGE), Mr. Mustapha Isah, commended the Federal Government for its commitment to housing delivery. He also commended the Minister for the innovations he has brought to bear at the national level, which, according to him, was a replication of his development initiatives as Governor in Lagos State.
Permanent Secretary, Mr. Babangida Hussaini commended President Buhari and the Minister for their commitment to programmes and projects that promote prosperity for the citizens and grow the nation’s economy.
Aside from the NGE president, other media personalities present are the Special Assistant, Digital/New Media to President Muhammadu Buhari, Mr. Tolu Ogunlesi, the Secretary General of the NGE and Editor, Nation’s Capital, THISDAY Newspaper Group, Mr. Iyobosa Uwugiaren,

Business

Naira continues fall against dollar despite CBN $10,000 to BDCs

Published

2 hours ago

April 25, 2024

Trends Admin

Naira continues fall against dollar despite CBN $10,000 to BDCs

The Naira has failed to appreciate against the US dollar at the foreign exchange market despite the Central Bank of Nigeria’s recent additional release of $10,000 to Bureau De change operators.

FMDQ data showed that the Naira recorded another drop to N1308.52 per Dollar on Wednesday compared to N1,300.15 exchanged on Tuesday.

On a day-to-day basis, this represents an N8.37 drop from N1,300.15 per Dollar it traded on Tuesday.

In the parallel market section, the Naira was sold at between N1,250 and N1,300 on Wednesday from N1230 on Tuesday.

Auto

Excitement as Chery celebrates innovations through roadshow at The Palms

Published

2 hours ago

April 25, 2024

Trends Admin

Excitement as Chery celebrates innovations through roadshow at The Palms

Excitement is in the air for all new car fans as the much-anticipated Lagos Chery Road Show holds tomorrow (Friday) April 26, 2014.

Carloha, a renowned automobile dealer of Chery vehicles in Nigeria, announced this in a statement, saying it will be an unparalleled automotive all the way from the auto firm to The Palms, the venue of the main event.

It also the event would offer an unforgettable journey of celebrating innovation, style, and the thrill of the open road.

Part of the statement read, “The Chery Road Show promises to be an electrifying extravaganza, offering attendees a thrilling journey through the heart of Lagos, celebrating innovation, style, and the spirit of adventure.

“Kicking off from the Carloha Showroom in Alapere, Lagos, the procession will wind its way through Anthony Village, Maryland, and the vibrant Sheraton Hotel axis, before making its grand entrance into the bustling streets of Opebi-Allen, and divert to Ikoyi, Victoria Island.

“The convoy will culminate at the The Palms, where the main event will take place.”

Giving highlights of roadshow, it says, “The sip and paint session promises to be a delightful fusion of creativity and relaxation.

“Set against the dynamic backdrop of Carloha Parking Lot at the Palms, participants will unleash their inner artists while watching with keen expectation on the artiste while creating masterpieces that capture the essence of the Chery brand.”

The firm also promised to provide the latest offerings from Chery with interactive displays showcasing the brand’s cutting-edge technology, superior craftsmanship, and commitment to excellence.

The Chery impressive lineup of vehicles at the venue, it added, would show why the brand had continued to redefine the automotive landscape.

“Immerse yourself in the festive atmosphere as you mingle with fellow enthusiasts and soak in the excitement of this one-of-a-kind event.

“Take advantage of exclusive offers and promotions available only at the Chery Road Show.

“Whether you’re in the market for a new vehicle or simply seeking to elevate your driving experience, don’t miss this opportunity to explore unbeatable deals and incentives,” it stated.

The statement reminded that Carloha Nigeria offers six-year free service, and six-years warranty or 200,000 kilometres, whichever comes first.

It also stated that the admission to the Chery Road Show was made free to give a lot of people the rare opportunity to experience the ultimate automotive extravaganza.

Business

Nigerians can now access N100bn consumer credit till May 14 – Tinubu

Published

4 hours ago

April 25, 2024

Trends Admin

Nigerians can now access N100bn consumer credit till May 14 – Tinubu

President Bola Tinubu has approved the commencement of the N100 billion Consumer Credit Scheme for Nigerians to ease the economic hardship facing the country.

Indeed, the President said interested Nigerians could visit the portal of Nigerian Consumer Credit Corporation before May 15, 2024.

President’s spokesperson, Ajuri Ngelale, revealed this in a statement on Wednesday.

Newstrends reports that food prices and other goods and services have skyrocketed since June last year after fuel subsidy removal.

The situation has been compounded by astronomical increase in foreign exchange rate, with the naira hitherto N450/$ before May 29 last year currently trading around N1,200 to a United States dollar at both official and parallel markets.

Part of the Wednesday’s statement read, “Consumer credit serves as the lifeblood of modern economies, enabling citizens to enhance their quality of life by accessing goods and services upfront, paying responsibly over time. It facilitates crucial purchases, such as homes, vehicles, education, and healthcare, which are essential for ongoing stability and the pursuit of their aspirations.

“Individuals build credit histories through responsible repayment, unlocking more opportunities for a better life.

“The increased demand for goods and services also stimulates local industry and job creation.

“The President believes every hardworking Nigerian should have access to social mobility, with consumer credit playing a pivotal role in achieving this vision.

“The Nigerian Consumer Credit Corporation (CREDICORP) achieves its mandate through the following: Strengthening Nigeria’s credit reporting systems and ensuring every economically active citizen has a dependable credit score. This score becomes personal equity they build, facilitating access to consumer credit, Offering credit guarantees and wholesale lending to financial institutions dedicated to broadening consumer credit access today and Promoting responsible consumer credit as a pathway to an improved quality of life, fostering a cultural shift towards growth and financial responsibility.

“In line with the President’s directive to expand consumer credit access to Nigerians, the Nigerian Consumer Credit Corporation (CREDICORP) has launched a portal for Nigerians to express interest in receiving consumer credit.

“This initiative, in collaboration with financial institutions and cooperatives nationwide, aims to broaden consumer credit availability.

“Working Nigerians interested in receiving consumer credit can visit www.credicorp.ng to express interest. The deadline is May 15, 2024.

“The scheme will be rolled out in phases, starting with members of the civil service and cascading to members of the public.”

Recall that two months ago, a presidential spokesman, Bayo Onanuga, announced that the Federal Executive Council had given the nod for the establishment of the Consumer Credit Scheme.

He said the President’s Chief of Staff, Femi Gbajabiamila, would lead a committee including the Budget Minister, Attorney-General, and Coordinating Minister of the Economy and Finance to make the scheme a reality.

In March, the Chairman of the Federal Inland Revenue Service Chairman, Zacch Adedeji, had hinted that the Nigerian government would unveil the N100 billion consumer credit loan.