The Federal Government has called on the Federal Housing Authority (FHA) to step up more efforts in addressing housing deficit across the country.
The Secretary to the Government of the Federation, George Akume made the statement during the commissioning of FHA mall in Gwarimpa, on Tuesday.
He urged the FHA to replicate the achievement in other parts of the country, for the comfort of all Nigerians, saying the present administration is interested in tackling the issue of housing deficit.
Akume said the mall is in line with the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Tinubu, saying the present administration is working on providing the enabling environment that would make Nigeria to succeed as a nation.
In his address, Managing Director/ Chief Executive Officer of FHA, Oyetunde Ojo, said, on assumption of duties, the mall was one of the projects he inherited, but that, with the charge of President Bola Tinubu that the days of abandoned projects are over, the FHA management put in everything it could to revive it.
He said the mandate of the FHA Management is hinged on the mantra of Renewed Hope, “which is embedded not only on provision of affordable and livable houses to Nigerians, but also in the provision of such facilities as this, that would create conducive business atmosphere to Nigerians living or doing business in our estate.”
He said the mall, which is the tallest in Abuja, will provide direct employment for over 500 Nigerians, thereby helping the government to tackle unemployment.
He said: “I dare to say that today’s event is an epoch making one, because here we are commissioning one of the tallest malls in Abuja. The resolve of our management to deliver this project sums up the spirit and cohesion we share in carrying out our job.
“On assumption of duties, this was one of the projects we inherited and with the charge of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu that the days of abandoned projects are over in mind, management put in everything we could to revive it, and today it is being commissioned.
“The structure is a 4-suspended floor edifice, comprising of 59 shopping spaces and a penthouse, serviced with all modern amenities for the comfort of the users.
“As Management, our mandate is hinged on the mantra of Renewed Hope, which is embedded not only on provision of affordable and livable houses to Nigerians, but also in the provision of such facilities as this, that would create conducive business atmosphere to Nigerians living or doing business in our estate.
“We are not stopping only in Gwarinpa estate, our blueprint is to extend this type of facility to all our estates for the comfort of our residents.
“Just like this edifice, which was conceived and developed from our site office here in Gwarimpa, we were also able to construct another complex from our old site office in Lugbe to provide a more conducive working environment for our staff in the Lugbe office, and also as a way for generating revenue to the Authority. It consists of other business spaces and also houses our bank: FHA Mortgage Bank.”
