By Angela Atabo
The Minister of Housing and Urban Development, Ahmed Dangiwa, says the Zamfara Government has donated 50 hectares of land to the ministry for the construction of affordable housing.
Dangiwa made this known when the Zamfara Governor, Dauda Lawal, led a delegation on courtesy call to the ministry on Thursday in Abuja.
He said that the donation of land by the governor for the Renewed Hope Housing project was commendable following the challenges of banditry and other insecurities that had befallen the state.
“I commend you for being an exemplary leader, despite all the insecurity and challenges you face as a government. You have shown a strong commitment to bringing development.
“I want to assure you that we are committed to providing all the support you require in your efforts to enhance access to decent, quality and affordable housing to your citizens.
“I acknowledge and thank you for providing 50 hectares of land at no cost to the Ministry for the Renewed Hope Housing Reform.
“I assure you that the Ministry will ensure that Zamfara state is included in the next batch of the programme. Our officials have been engaging with your team to begin this next week.’’he said.
Dangiwa said that the project in Zamafara would be captured in the ministry’s next budget because of the condition of the state.
“I have also assured the governor of the Pulako initiative, a Federal Government’s initiative of rebuilding the insecure areas that are affected by the banditry and insecurity.
“Zamfara has been slated as one of the deserving states that will benefit.
“In a couple of weeks, we will do the groundbreaking in Zamfara for of free of charge houses to those affected by insurgency,’’ he said.
Dangiwa said that the ministry was also collaborating with Zamfara government for houses built in the state under the National Housing Programme to be disposed through the state government.
He said that 250 houses would be the first to be constructed under the Renewed Hope Estate.
He said that another 250 housing units would be constructed under the Pulako initiative making it a total of 500 housing units to be constructed within one year.
Earlier, the Zamfara Governor said that the state took the initiative to visit the housing ministry in order to galvanise support for the rebuilding of the state from the ravaging effects of security challenges.
Lawal said that he came to appeal to the ministry to consider Zamfara as one of the first states to benefit in terms of any structure to be put in place.
“This is bearing in mind the situation the state is facing.
“It is very important that we meet the minister considering the situation of Zamfara State where we have serious challenges in terms of infrastructure and housing.
“So, there is need for that collaboration between the Zamfara State government and the ministry.
“The ministry is constructing houses for internally displaced persons in Zamfara because of the challenges of insecurity the state that is facing.
“Therefore, there is a need for the ministry to come to our aid, and we are ready to partner,’’ he said.
Lawal said that the state government was working to restore the glory of the state, although it had suffered insecurity for almost 12 years.
“If you go round the state, you will see that there is significant improvement in terms of security for farming activitie.
“The security situation is coming down drastically, and we will continue to do that until we achieve our aim in bringing insecurity to the minimum barest level in Zamfara and Nigeria as a whole,’’ he said
NEWS AGENCY OF NIGERIA