The donation of 50 hectares of land by the Zamfara State government for the development of an affordable housing estate has sparked optimism that more Nigerians, particularly Zamfara indigenes, will soon become homeowners, helping to alleviate the housing deficit in the state.
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Zamfara Affordable Housing
This land, provided free of charge, will be used to establish the Renewed Hope Estate, which aims to deliver affordable homes to Nigerians. According to state officials, the donation is part of Zamfara’s ongoing efforts to tackle housing shortages and offer its citizens decent living conditions.
Ahmed Dangiwa, Minister of Housing and Urban Development, praised the land donation during a meeting with Zamfara Governor Dauda Lawal Dare in Abuja.
The federal government, through the Ministry of Housing and Urban Development, reaffirmed its commitment to delivering affordable housing for the people of Zamfara. Dangiwa gave this assurance during a courtesy visit from Governor Dare in Abuja.
In a statement issued by Salisu Badamasi Haiba, Director of Information and Public Relations, Dangiwa pledged full ministry support for the state’s housing initiatives, stressing the importance of providing affordable, decent, and quality housing for all citizens.
“We are dedicated to offering all the necessary support to ensure decent, quality, and affordable housing for your people,” Dangiwa stated, applauding Governor Dare for the 50-hectare land donation that will significantly lower the cost of building homes, making them more accessible to Zamfara residents.
He further assured that Zamfara would be prioritized in the ministry’s upcoming housing projects. “Zamfara will be included in the next batch of states to benefit from our housing programmes,” Dangiwa added.
Regarding the National Housing Programme (NHP), the minister revealed that his team was actively engaging with Zamfara officials to facilitate the state’s interest in acquiring unsold housing units. He disclosed that prices for these units had already been adjusted downward at the state’s request and hinted at further reductions to ensure affordability. “Our focus is not on profit but on recovering construction costs so that we can continue building more homes for Nigerians,” he explained.
Dangiwa also noted that the cost of infrastructure had been waived to reduce the financial burden on buyers, commending the Zamfara government’s plan to subsidize housing costs for its citizens.
Additionally, he confirmed that Zamfara would be included in the PULAKU Initiative Housing Project, a federal initiative under President Bola Tinubu aimed at addressing social exclusion and grievances in the North West, particularly among the Fulani community.
The minister announced that the groundbreaking ceremony for the project in Zamfara would be held soon.
Governor Dare, in his remarks, requested the ministry’s assistance in expediting the agreement for purchasing NHP housing units. He explained that Zamfara, grappling with challenges like insecurity, inadequate infrastructure, and a severe housing shortage, urgently required affordable housing solutions to ease its financial constraints.
“We appeal for Zamfara to be given priority in all housing projects due to the unique challenges we face,” Dare said. Both parties reaffirmed their commitment to collaborating in order to provide sustainable and affordable housing for the people of Zamfara.
