By Rakiya A.Muhammad
As part of efforts to address the housing shortfall, Sokoto State Governor Ahmed Aliyu Sokoto has laid the foundation for a 500-unit luxury housing estate near Sokoto’s new city.
Speaking at the ceremony on Tuesday, the Governor described it as an essential milestone signifying their collective resolve to address the acute housing deficit that continues to affect both the public and private sectors across Nigeria.
He reaffirmed the state government’s unwavering commitment to providing befitting houses for the people.
“When we came on board, there was not a single house owned by the State Government, “he revealed.
“This necessitated our decision to embark on the construction of 500 housing units in Wajake village of Wamakko local government area. This is in addition to the completion of the 500 houses at Gidan Salanke, which was initiated by my mentor and father, Senator Aliyu Magatakarda Wamakko when he was the Governor of the state. We equally acquired 130 housing units at Kwannawa from the Federal Ministry of Housing.”
He added: “To further provide more housing units for the State, we equally awarded this contract for the construction of 300 units of three-bedroom flats and 200 units of four-bedroom flats by way of strategic partnership.”
The Governor said it was in recognition of the urgency and importance of reducing the housing shortfall, particularly within the civil service and other vital sectors of the economy, that they entered into a strategic partnership and finalized the purchase of the houses from Teamwork Construction Company Nigeria Limited, a reputable body in the building and construction industry.
“The total value of this investment stands at ₦22 billion, with a projected completion timeline of 12 months from the commencement of the contract. Be rest assured that we are committed to ensuring the success of this project,” he stated.
“As we lay this foundation today, let it also stand as a symbol of our enduring commitment to development, equity, and the upliftment of our people through sustainable housing solutions.”
Governor Aliyu explained that when completed, the houses would be sold on owner occupier so that the average civil servants and other low-income earners could own houses of their own.
He expressed profound gratitude to Ahmed Usman Ododo, the Executive Governor of Kogi State, for laying the foundation for this historic project.
