Family Homes Funds says it is collaborating with Argisol Group, a United Kingdom and Germany group to build 30,000 homes across the country in five years.
The company’s UK Chairman, Joseph Ejim, who made this known to newsmen in Abuja, said the housing initiative of the Federal Government Social Intervention Programme received a huge support from the United Kingdom and Germany.
“The collaboration is to provide affordable housing by the duo of Family Homes Funds Limited in Nigeria and the Argisol Group operated in Germany and United Kingdom.
“The agreement is also to promote sustainable and energy-efficient homes that reduce Greenhouse Gas (GHG) emissions.
”The multinational agreement is expected to provide 30,000 Homes over five years across Nigerian.
“The agreement will contribute to bridging the housing gap in Nigeria,” he said .
Ejim said that framework to build 30,000 units of mix-income affordable housing for Nigerians would utilise the ARGISOL Insulated Concrete Formwork (ICF) Buildings Systems over a period of five years.
He said that the Argisol Building Systems would make it possible to construct energy-efficient and sustainable buildings that significantly reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
He said that Argisol has supported and promoted sustainable building practices with a focus on energy efficiency and GHG emission reduction since 1982.
According to Ejim, Family Homes Funds is a social housing initiative promoted by the Federal Government of Nigeria as part of its Social Intervention Programme.
He added that its initial shareholding was by the Ministry of Finance Incorporated (MOFI) and the Nigeria Sovereign Investment Authority (NSIA).
He said that homes to be built would be designed to appeal to a broad range of homeowners across all income groups, including, public servants and those employed in the private sector as well as self-employed entrepreneurs.
“We believe that our Homes offer a much more energy efficient and sustainable alternative to traditional hollow concrete block or brick buildings.
“The cost saving achieved during construction will continue throughout the lifespan of the building in the continuous savings from energy costs,” he said.
According to Mr Giles Catchpole, Executive Director, Argisol UK,Africa is due for the right modern method of construction that would create homes that are stronger than conventional ones.
Catchpole said that the houses would be fire resistant, rots and mould proof.
He added that the system cuts down on reinforcement by 60 per cent and allows for construction to be done in one-third of the time it takes to build with traditional methods.
“Argisol will now build its first Nigerian Factory capable of producing its building systems for up to 15,000 homes a year on its 2-hectare plot of land at the Abuja Technology Village.
”The company which boasts of the leading ICF technology in the world today has an exclusivity pact with Family Homes funds for the Nigerian Market.
” The company is however present in Kenya, Uganda, and South Africa where it is at various stages of deployment at the moment.
“We’re excited about the potential for building our higher quality, Energy efficient homes across Nigeria and becoming a major player in the Nigerian Housing market,” he added
Dr Aliyu Ibrahim, a Director of Argisol Building Systems ATV FZE the Nigerian subsidiary of the Argisol Group, said the goal was to provide home buyers with comfort, spacious living, and the safety needed to thrive in their daily pursuits.
Ibrahim said that the Argisol launch in the Nigerian Market is expected to generate significant interest among Builders, Real estate developers Home buyers, and other industry insiders.
He added that the companies looked to take on the challenge of helping bridge Nigeria’s housing gap currently estimated at over 20 million homes.