By 
By Bushrah Yusuf-Badmus
After the report of the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on abandoned housing estates in Ilorin, Kwara state, the Federal Ministry of Housing and Urban development has approved a uniform sale prices for housing units under its Renewed Hope Estate Programme across all states of the Federation.
In the report published on Oct. 9, NAN correspondents highlighted how Nigerians are facing problems in getting affordable houses and how the federal government moved to bring this to an end through its National Housing Programme, but surprisingly has not met the purpose it was created for.
The housing estates though already built in Ilorin and some commissioned, have not been occupied by anyone years after commissioning which has led to the dilapidation and theft of some of the facilities therein.
Seeing the report and the views of experts on the utilization of the facilities were aired, the Federal government on Oct. 23 announced uniformed prices for the housing units across the country.
Mr Badamasi Haiba,Director, Press and Public Relations of the ministry made this known in a statement in Abuja.
Haiba said the move was aimed at enhancing affordability and ensuring fairness for qualified Nigerians.
According to him, the housing units, which comprise one-, two-, and three-bedroom semi-detached bungalows, are part of the Ministry’s efforts to make homeownership more accessible and equitable for Nigerians.
“The approved selling prices are as follows: One-bedroom semi-detached bungalow: ₦8.5 million; two-bedroom semi-detached bungalow: ₦11.5 million and three-bedroom semi-detached bungalow: ₦12.5 million.
Haiba said, “The adoption of uniform selling prices aims to promote affordability, transparency, and fairness.
“It will ensure that Nigerians across all regions have equal opportunities to benefit from the Renewed Hope Housing Programme.”
The director explained that the Minister of Housing and Urban Development,Ahmed Dangiwa, stated that priority in the allocation of the housing units would be given to low- and middle-income earners, civil servants at all levels.
He said that priority would also be given to employees in the organised private sector with verifiable sources of income, and Nigerians in the Diaspora who wish to own homes in the country.
Haiba said that several payment options had been provided to make the houses affordable and flexible.
These included: Outright (full) payment, mortgage, rent-to-own scheme, and installment payment plans.
The ministry further announced that the sale of the completed housing units across the Northern and Southern regions would soon commence.
Haiba said that applications could be made through the Renewed Hope Housing online portal at www.renewedhopehomes.fmhud.gov.ng, or obtained from the ministry’s headquarters and field offices nationwide.
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