Niger to recover N1bn from buyers of Talba housing estate

The Niger state government has set up a committee to recover over N1billion outstanding debts from buyers of the Talba Housing Estate Minna, warning that those who failed to meet up with the demand notice for payment or breach the terms of allocation will be ejected.

The state Commissioner of Lands and Housing, Barr Mukhtar Nasar, stated this Thursday in Minna, while briefing journalists on the outcome of the state executive council meeting.

He said the state government had mandated the committee to embark on house to house enumeration of the estate, adding that “One-month demand notice will be issued to those who have defaulted in payment since the houses were allocated almost 10 years ago.”

He said defaulters are expected to complete payment of outstanding debts within the one-month grace, adding that government will have to enforce provisions and terms contained in the allocation documents of the houses.

The commissioner said government has also set in motion measures towards the completion of the Madalla housing estate in Suleja area of the state.

He explained that the first phase of the Madalla estate which began in 2009, had attained 90 per cent completion before it was abandoned due to paucity of funds.

According to him, “The estate was abandoned about 11 years ago because the Federal Mortgage Bank did not release the second tranche of funds after it released the sum of N250million. As at today, the interest accruing to the principal amount is about N600million.

“However, we have commenced negotiation meeting with the bank and the contracting firm to enable us complete the project. We are making progress in this direction as the bank has agreed to give us 50 per cent waiver on the interest. We hope to pay off the interest and principal amount so that we can commence the completion works on the estate.”

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