Abuja To Get 15,000 New Houses

By: Wisdom Acka

The Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) is prepared to partner with the Real Estate Developers Association of Nigeria (REDAN) to build 15,000 new houses in Abuja.

The FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike, gave this assurance, while receiving top officials of REDAN that paid him a visit in his office, Thursday.

His words: “The FCT Administration is committed to partnering with the organization if is showed seriousness to deliver the houses to the teeming populace of the Federal Capital Territory.”

The Minister, however, said that the Administration would only partner REDAN, if the Association will provide a Bank Guarantee and signs a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to demonstrate their capacity and commitment to project completion within a stipulated timeframe.

Wike underscored the importance of accountability and warned that failure to fulfill obligations, including payment of ground rent and property taxes, would not be tolerated.

The Minister stressed the need for a mutually beneficial partnership, highlighting the potential for the government to also provide land for housing estates and questioned the practice of developers selling land allocated by the government, instead of developing them.

He expressed openness to new models but stressed the importance of accountability and transparency.

Speaking earlier, the REDAN Chairman, Dr. Ehikioya Okoruwa, assured the Minister of the Association’s readiness to cooperate and outlined plans to build the said 15,000 houses to address the housing deficit.

Okoruwa highlighted a potential investment of N262 billion, with the FCT administration standing to benefit N65 billion if supported.

He also assured that REDAN is working with security agencies to address land racketeering; emphasizing the Association’s commitment to ethical practices and accountability.