Yobe spends N7bn on housing provision

The Yobe State Government yesterday said it expended about N7 billion to construct 1,110 housing units in Damaturu, the state capital.
The government also said that the houses were built in the 17 local government council headquarters of the state from 2007 to date.
Alhaji Adamu Shuaibu, Director, Building, state Ministry of Housing, stated this in an interview with newsmen in Damaturu.

He said government prioritised housing to meet the accommodation challenges facing civil servants and other private individuals in the state.
“Government expended N3.6 billion on construction of 300 housing units along Maiduguri road otherwise known as ‘Red Bricks estate’ in Damaturu.

“Another 170 others in all the 17 local government headquarters and 45 houses in three senatorial district headquarters.
“The state government also constructed 256 housing units at the Bra-Bra Housing Estate at the cost of N1.024 billion.
“Another 300 housing units were constructed at the Maiduguri-Gujba road by-pass Housing Estate at the cost of N1.617 billion,” Adamu said.
He said that 39 Doctors’ Quarters were also constructed in hospitals at the cost of N713.6 million to contribute to ensure conducive working environment for doctors and enhance healthcare delivery.
The director said that the houses in the estates were allocated to civil servants on owner-occupier basis, government agencies, corporate bodies and private individuals.
He said: “65 per cent of the houses were allocated to civil servants, 15 per cent each to government agencies and private individuals while corporate bodies were allocated 10 per cent of the houses.
“Civil servants who benefitted from the allocation have also enjoyed 65 per cent waiver of the construction cost.
“This means that they are to pay only 35 per cent of the cost price of the houses.
“This is the best housing policy with generous subsidy ever provided by any government to civil servants in the country; it is both accessible and affordable.

“Civil servants in Yobe now retire from service with befitting housing accommodation that is paid with little stress,” he said.
The director also said that government constructed roads, fence, provided security and electricity within the estates.