Kwara State Governor, Dr Abdulfatah Ahmed has flagged off building of the phase one of the 1,000 Maigida Housing Units at Budo-Osho, in Ilorin, the State Capital as part of efforts in solving the state’s growing population’s accommodation needs.
Speaking at the ground breaking, Governor Ahmed said with a population of 3.5 million, the state has 486,000 households “with an estimated 6 people per household. Therefore, Kwara State has a housing deficit of 584,000 affordable and quality units”.
The governor, who said the programme is expected to cover the 16 local government areas of the state, described the 1,000 units as government’s recognition of the critical need to provide affordable, quality housing to meet the need of Kwarans for shelter.
“Currently, Kwara State is experiencing high population growth due to the huge influx of people and businesses to our state, based on our reputation as the gateway to the north and south as well as the relative peace we enjoy.
Therefore, it has become crucial that we, as a responsible and welfare-oriented government, provide affordable and quality housing such as the 1,000 units being flagged-off today to accommodate the state’s growing population”, he said.
Gov. Ahmed promised that the 1,000 units, would be a model Housing Estate in the state in terms of quality of construction, infrastructural facilities and affordability.
The Commissioner for Housing and Urban Development, Muideen Alalade, in his address, said the ground breaking of the housing estate was a practical demonstration of the government’s readiness to meet the aspiration and needs of the people of the State.
In his remarks, Chairman, Kwara State Housing Corporation, Arch. Salihu Suleiman, said the first phase of the establishment will comprise 500 units of 82 two-bedroom and 418 three-bedroom bungalows.
Suleiman, who described shelter as the second most important of man, said the Maigida Estate would be demand driven.
The Chairman, Central Geo-Systems Nigeria Limited, Arch Rasaq Muhammed said his company would deliver the 1,000 houses made up of 700 3-bedroom and 300 two-bedroom bungalows in the estate within a year.
Arch. Muhammed explained that although the scheme is supported by the state government through the provision of land charges, it was 100 percent private investment driven.