Damaturu — The Yobe State Government is to commence the construction of 221 houses out of the 500 housing units project earmarked to be constructed this year as successful bidders have been directed to collect their contract award letters and twenty five percent mobilisation fees.

The state government had budgeted N2.8 billion for the 500 houses which would be constructed across the seventeen local government areas of the state. Hundreds of tenders were submitted but only 221 were successful, the state Commissioner of Home Affairs, Information and Culture, Alhaji Wakili A. Sarki, has said.

Sarki who addressed journalists shortly after the State Executive Council meeting, said the construction of the houses is in line with the government's determi-nation to provide shelter to the people of the state.

He said two bedroom flats would be constructed at N6, 159, 260.80 each; two bedroom duplex at N9, 242, 965. 51 each while two bedroom block of six flats at N44, 177, 102.20 each. He added that a three bedroom flat would be built at the sum of N8, 173, 178. 20 each.

Explaining further on the 500 housing units, the commissioner pointed out that 10 of the housing units would be located in each of the 17 local government councils of the state.

He added that 15 of the housing units would be located in each of the two Zonal headquarters of Potiskum and Gashua while the remaining 300 units would be in Damaturu, the state capital.

He said the 221 successful bidders who are local contractors must be cleared by the commissioners from their various local government councils before they would be given their award letters. He added that the contractors are expected to sign the contractual agreement on Thursday after which they will be paid the 25 per cent mobilisation fee.

One of the conditions attached to the contract, according to the commissioner, is that the contract is not transferable. The commissioner said any contractor who violates the agreement will have his contract revoked.