Mustapha Shehu
26 September 2008
Abuja — In furtherance of the implementation of the approved new broad framework for mass housing projects in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) is, in a public private partnership (PPP) with Houses for Africa (HFA), building 10,000 housing units for low and medium income earners at a total cost of $300 million in Abuja.
FCTA Minister, Dr. Aliyu Modibbo Umar, disclosed this in Abuja yesterday at the ground breaking ceremony for the Windsor Garden City Housing Estate under the Lugbe River Project expected to be completed in not more than 10 years.
Modibbo, who was described as 'masses friendly minister' at the occasion, reiterated his administration's policy of catering for the masses as well as the very affluent as he had always maintained that "Abuja is also for the masses".
The project, which will be sited on a 500-hectare land already granted HFA by the FCTA will, apart from the housing units, incorporate amenities such as retail and commercial facilities, schools and public health facilities, parklands, places of worship; and other social infrastructure.
Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Houses for Nigeria , the Nigerian subsidiary of HFA, Mr. Adreah Ogun, disclosed that initial urban plan and house design have been completed by Osmond Lange Architect and Supercell Architects ( Nigeria) and Arup South Africa. The initial house and infrastructure costs have been established with choice of concrete blocks using sand available in large quantities at the Lugbe site, or other alternative materials as hydra form, polystyrene, interlocking concrete blocks and synthetic water-proof concrete.
Ogun also disclosed that HFA has completed 4,500-unit Kuwadazana Housing Development Project, which is the largest housing project in Zimbabwe . Also in May 2006, it successfully launched the 5,000-unit Lilayi Housing Development Project in Lusaka , Zambia at the cost of $120 million. Other HFA target countries are Ghana , Tanzania and Botswana .
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