Abia State civil servants, who contribute to the National Housing Fund (NHF), have so far contributed N1.46 billion to the Fund, Chairman of the Federal Mortgage Bank of Nigeria (FMBN), Bisi Ogunjobi, has said.
He revealed this on Wednesday during the inauguration of the bank’s office complex in Umuahia, describing the contribution from the state as ‘’heart-warming.’’
Ogunjobi, who was represented by a member of the Board of Directors of the bank, Godwin Duru, further said over N47.2 billion had been refunded to retired contributors to the fund.
‘’I am happy that FMBN is fulfilling its own part of the bargain,’’ he said.
He further said the bank had financed the development of two housing estates to the tune of N1 billion.
He explained that the estate development loans were advanced to Abia State Housing Corporation and a private developer for the construction of a combined 380 housing units.
Ogunjobi said the bank was also considering a proposal by another private developer for the construction of 500 housing units for civil servants in the state.
‘’From the foregoing, it can be seen that the partnership between the state and FMBN is mutually beneficial,’’ he said.
He solicited continued collaboration between the state government, labour unions and the bank ‘’to sustain the efforts being made through the NHF to promote home-ownership in the country.’’
The state Head of Service (HoS), Godson Adiele, thanked the bank for erecting an office complex in the state and ‘’for providing decent and affordable housing for the citizenry.’’
Adiele, represented by the Permanent Secretary in the HoS office, Uche Ikonne, urged the bank to make a commitment towards the commencement of the construction of the 500 housing units for workers in the state.
He said the state is ready to fulfil its own part of the collaboration and ‘’expects a commitment from the bank’’ on the possible date for the take off of the project, while thanking the bank for donating some equipment to his office and gave assurance that it would be deployed to efficient service delivery in the state.
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