FCTA TO REVIEW 85BN WASA HOUSING ARRANGEMENTS WITH CONTRACTORS 04-09-23
By: Sadiq Aminu Minister, Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, has called for the review of the FCTA Apo- wasa housing development arrangements with the contractors to meet with the current financial reality.
The Minister who made the call during an inspection tour to the Satellite Town Development Department, STDD, said the government would no longer provide land and infrastructure to private developers without negotiating how much the masses should pay for such houses upon completion.
The Minister who expressed dissatisfaction over the delay in the execution of the project that was awarded since 2014, lamented that the variation cost of the project has multiplied from the initial twenty six billion naira to eighty five billion naira.
According to the FCT Minister, it is worrisome that a nine year old contract had only attained a little over 20% level of completion.
WIke assured that the FCT Administration would no longer continue to provide infrastructure on lands for contractors to build on , and make exorbitant gains for themselves.
“We are not impressed with the arrangement made by the FCT. Government cannot just cough out N85 billion in providing infrastructure and then give land out to private developers who will build and sell.
“This kind of arrangement is not commendable at all at all. We think that the government must also participate, having provided the land and infrastructure.
“If we are partnering with private individuals or developers, the common sense is that you provide the land, provide infrastructure and they come and develop.
“Then government for example can take 10 per cent then the developers take 90 per cent, depending on the value,” Wike said.
Earlier, acting Coordinator, Satellite Town Development Department, Mr Olusegun Olusan, confirmed that the contract for the provision of the infrastructure was awarded in 2014 at the sum of N26 billion but revised to N85 billion in 2018.
The coordinator further explained that the government’s role was to provide the land and infrastructure, while private developers build houses and sell to the masses at an affordable rate, adding that a two bedroom was at the c
projected to be sold to the masses at N7 million.
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Apparently not satisfied with the coordinator’s explanation,the FCT Minister announced that the project would be revisited for proper planning in a manner that the government would benefit from the project and ensure that it was affordable for the masses.
The inspection team also visited the ongoing road construction leading to the Headquarters of the Economic and Financial Crime Commission ,Body of Benchers building and Apo- Kabusa Junction, where shanties seated on the road shoulders were removed by development control in company of AEPB and security agencies .