Being Text of a Speech by His Excellency, Alhaji Aliyu Akwe Doma, OON, (Madauchin Doma), Executive Governor of Nasarawa State on the Occasion of the Foundation Stone Laying Ceremony of 500 Housing Units for Civil Servants in Nasarawa State: Lafia, Friday, 5th December, 2008.

PROTOCOL:

I am very delighted to welcome you all to Lafia, the capital city of Nasarawa State, on this occasion of the foundation stone laying ceremony of 500 housing units for civil servants in the State.

Let me particularly welcome our Special Guest of Honour, Alhaji (Dr.) Mahmud Yayale Ahmed, CON, Ajiyan Katagum and Secretary to the Government of the Federation, who has kindly accepted to honour our invitation and to be here with us today. Our dear Ajiya, the people of Nasarawa State cannot thank you enough for this gesture of solidarity and support.

It is our collective belief that your presence at this occasion is not only for solidarity with the people of Nasarawa State, but a demonstration of your acknowledged concern for the welfare of workers. This you had exhibited in your several years of accomplished service in the capacity of Federal Permanent Secretary, Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Honourable Minister of Defence, and now, as Secretary to the Government of the Federation.

In the same token, I welcome all our major stakeholders, especially those in real estate development, mortgage institutions and financial sector, who have taken time to join us today for this historic event.

Ladies and gentlemen, one of the 13-point agenda of our Administration is the provision of qualitative and affordable housing for all segments of our society, in active collaboration with the private sector. It is in keeping with this policy thrust that the project for which we are all here to kick-start, was conceived.

We realize the inter-relationship between housing development and urbanization. To this end, we have embarked on urban renewal programme through the construction and expansion of major township roads, as well as enhancement of power and water supply in our urban centres.

I need to point out that this Administration recognizes the Civil Service as the engine room for progress and development, particularly in the implementation of Government policies and programmes. The need for the provision of comfortable and affordable housing for our Civil Servants cannot therefore, be overemhasised.

This housing project which consists of 200 units of 3-bedroom bungalows and 300 units of 2-bedroom semi-detached bungalows, is therefore, a major leap forward in our efforts to ensure that workers in the State public service have access to decent and comfortable houses of their own.

The construction of these 500 housing units is being undertaken by the State Government and Messrs Chipa Nig. Ltd, under Public-Private Partnership. In keeping with the partnership agreement, Messrs Chipa Nig. Ltd will invest the sum of One Billion, Six Hundred and Seventy Million Naira (N1,670,000,000.00). The State Government, on its part, is providing the entire basic infrastructure, such as land covering 58 hectares, access roads, electricity, street lights and potable water at a total cost of One Billion, Twenty-eight Million, Eight Hundred and Seventy-two Thousand, Six Hundred and Thirty-three Naira (N1,028,872,633.00). The provision of communal facilities such as schools, markets and clinics will however be privatized.

On completion, the houses will be allocated on owner-occupier basis to interested civil servants who are contributors to the National Housing Fund Scheme. In order to secure their ownership of the houses, the certificate of occupancy on the land which has been issued the developer shall be surrendered and new ones issued to each of the beneficiaries for his or her house.

Arrangements have also been concluded for the sourcing of National Housing Fund Loan from the Federal Mortgage Bank of Nigeria (FMBN) through accredited Primary Mortgage Institutions (PMIs) at 6% interest rate on behalf of interested Civil Servants. It is my hope, and indeed my expectation, that our civil servants will take full advantage of this opportunity to acquire houses of their own for their comfort and that of their families during and after their Civil Service career.

Ladies and gentlemen, permit me at this juncture to thank the Chairman of Chipa Nig. Ltd, Senator Anyim Pius Anyim, for partnering with us in this venture and for sharing in our vision of building a virile and well motivated civil service for the State. Mr. former President of the Senate sir, we thank you immensely for your trust and confidence in our development efforts.

Perharps, I should also mention that a similar partnership initiative is being concluded for the construction of 6000 housing units to be located at Auta-Balefi in Karu Local Government Area of the State. The estate is being planned in collaboration with the Federal Government to provided housing facilities for members of the public living in or around Abuja, the Federal Capital. It is envisaged that the estate, when fully completed, will be the best of its kind in Africa in terms of design, facilities and environment.

Let me also use this occasion to invite other real estate developers to establish housing estates in our urban centres across the State. I assure you all that Government has put in place appropriate measures to encourage investors, such as quick access to land titles and tax holidays. Government has also embarked on the preparation of materplans for our urban centres across the State to facilitate orderly housing and other infrastructures in the State.

I would like to conclude this address by reminding our civil servants that "To whom much is given, much is expected!" I therefore hope that you will reciprocate this gesture by reaffirming your dedication and commitment to service and service delivery in the higher interest of the Government and people of Nasarawa State. Only in this way can we be sure of realizing the Nasarawa State of our dream.

On this note, distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen, it is now my pleasure to invite our special guest of honour, Alhaji (Dr.) Mahmud Yayale Ahmed, CON, Ajiyan Katagum and Secretary to the Government of the Federation, to lay the foundation stone of the 500 housing units for civil servants in Nasarawa State.

Thank you and God bless.