By Tracy Moses
The Federal Housing Authority (FHA) has announced plans for massive housing construction across the country as it commenced the development of a Renewed Hope Estate in Osogbo, Osun State.
The project, being undertaken in partnership with Summit Group Limited, is part of the Authority’s efforts to expand housing delivery and contribute to addressing Nigeria’s housing deficit.
The groundbreaking ceremony, held on Thursday, was performed on behalf of the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of the FHA, Hon. Oyetunde Ojo, by the Executive Director, Estate Services, Arc. Nya-Etok Ezekiel.
Speaking at the ceremony, Ojo said the Osogbo project demonstrated the FHA’s commitment to developing not only housing units but also liveable communities equipped with the infrastructure and amenities required to meet modern standards.
He said the Authority was pursuing the project with full awareness of the scale of Nigeria’s housing deficit, stressing that government could not address the challenge alone.
“This project, in partnership with Summit Group Ltd, will provide a mixed-use development comprising residential units, commercial spaces and recreational centres designed to meet the needs of families, workers and entrepreneurs.
“Federal Housing Authority undertakes this project mindful of the urgent housing deficit facing our nation. Government alone cannot bridge this gap. That is why FHA has embraced Public-Private Partnership as a central delivery model,” he said.
Ojo said the partnership with Summit Group Limited reflected a shared-risk and shared-value approach that could accelerate project delivery, improve the quality of developments and create greater value for citizens and investors.
He added that the FHA’s management was guided by the charge given to it by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to be bold, accountable and results-driven in tackling the nation’s housing challenges.
According to him, the Authority had consequently re-oriented its strategies to prioritise accelerated project delivery, enhanced land utilisation, inclusive design principles and wider access to housing opportunities.
The FHA boss disclosed that the Authority was set for massive housing construction nationwide, noting that projects in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State; Kaduna; and Umuahia, Abia State, had already undergone their tendering processes.
He also said the FHA had intensified project delivery through Public-Private Partnerships in Ogun State and the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja.
Ojo assured residents of Osogbo and the people of Osun State that the project would generate employment opportunities and stimulate economic activity through its construction and associated value chain.
33-Hectare Mixed-Use Development
Giving an overview of the Osogbo development, the General Manager, Partnership and Zonal Coordination, Arc. Peter Okpanachi, said the estate occupies 33 hectares of land and would feature modern infrastructure, amenities and utility services.
He said the development comprises 241 plots, with facilities including a water treatment plant, petrol station, hotel, police post, recreational centres, worship centres, an FHA Mortgage Bank facility and a clinic, among others.
According to Okpanachi, the facilities would support the development of an integrated, mixed-use community designed to meet residential, commercial and recreational needs.
Also speaking, the Managing Director of Summit Group Limited, Otunba Olalere Olabode, thanked the FHA for the confidence reposed in the company and said work had commenced in earnest at the site.
Olabode described the estate as a premium development, citing its location and concept, while stressing that affordability had also been taken into consideration.
Describing the estate as a “Federal GRA,” he urged indigenes and other Nigerians to key into the project, which he said “assures comfort and safety comparable to any modern estate.”
The FHA’s Executive Director, Projects Implementation, Engr. Oluremi Omowaiye, said the project would provide an alternative to Osogbo’s GRA, which he said had come under considerable pressure.
Omowaiye called on investors to key into the development early, expressing concern that the project could be oversubscribed.
He assured stakeholders that the FHA would deploy the expertise and professionalism for which it is known to ensure the successful delivery of the project.