Politics
FHA MD/ CEO, Hon Oyetunde Ojo visits Akwa Ibom State
FHA MD/ CEO, Hon Oyetunde Ojo visits Akwa Ibom State.
…As Governor Umo Eno pledges to support the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu .
The Executive Governor of Akwa Ibom State, His Excellency Pastor Umo Eno has pledged full support for the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu (GCFR) on housing. This was made known Thursday, 2nd May 2024, when the Managing Director and Chief Executive of Federal Housing Authority Hon Oladimeji Oyetunde Ojo paid a visit to the state.
The Governor who in an unprecedented manner handed over an allocation letter and survey plan of 50.3 hectares of land in Uyo to Federal Housing Authority for the Renewed Hope Housing programme, commended the Authority’s management under the leadership of Hon Oyetunde Ojo for adopting policy of consulting with the state governments before embarking on any project.
Governor Eno frowned at the idea of some agencies coming into states and do works without consulting the states who are the major Stakeholders, said he wishes they could emulate the inclusivity disposition of FHA management.
He noted that his government has not done any project in the State without engaging the Stakeholders. In his words, “we watch as your management travels to engage State governments. There is no project we have done in Akwa Ibom without engaging with the Stakeholders holders. We wish other agencies will emulate you”
Earlier, Hon Ojo had informed the Governor that the reason for the visit was for the Authority’s new management to pay him a courtesy visit and to bring President Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda on Housing to the state.
The FHA CEO noted that Akwa Ibom is the 15th state his Management would be visiting in about three weeks, and stated that the reason for the visits is to consult with the state Governors who are the custodians of lands in their various states. Hon Ojo pointed out that it is needless embarking on housing projects without having the imputs of the people who the houses are built for. He said consulting with the Stakeholders makes the people to take ownership of such projects and reduces the incidents of such houses not taken on completion.
He therefore told the governor that FHA has come to ask for land. According to him, ” … we have come to request for land to develop Mass Housing for the people of the state. We are not going to speculate on the land”
The FHA boss said that the Authority would partner with the government in coming up with designs that would suite the people, rather than imposing one on them. He noted that FHA is known for developing cities within cities, citing Festac Town, Lagos and Gwarinpa in Abuja as examples.
On the affordability of the houses as mandated by Mr President, Hon Ojo said FHA has come up with such delivery models as carcas ,where only the exterior will have a prototype finishing, then plumbing and electricals because of their sensitive nature, leaving the allottees to do the rest finishing according to their individual taste and capacity.
He also said such other model as studios would be targeting the younger ones, who are starting live.
The MD told the governor that FHA is planning Diaspora cities across the states for the benefit of our people outside the country. He hinted that the Authority launched its digitalisation drive on the 1st of May, 2024 a feature that will help in the Diaspora initiative.
He finally requested the state government to assist in getting off takers and helping in reducing some of the bottle necks in developing the houses which would definitely help in reducing the cost of the houses.
He noted that the value chain of construction and Housing development has been a major tool in fighting inflation all over the world and as such would be of great benefit to the state.
Hon Ojo noted that the Renewed Hope Housing Agenda is non political but all about Nigerians in the directives of Mr President. He stated that President Tinubu has put politics aside and is determined to work for the good of all Nigerians irrespective of political affiliation or tribe.
Breaking: Speaker Obasa Debunks Allegation Of Spending N17b On Assembly Gate
The Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Mudashiru Obasa, on Thursday described the allegation that the House spent N17 billion on the fixing of a gate as spurious and funny.
A self-proclaimed group, Lagos State Anti-Corruption Coalition, had accused the Assembly of spending the amount to construct a gate. The group also sought investigation of the claim.
Speaking at plenary, Dr. Obasa said the allegation stemmed from the fear of some people over 2027 which is still more than two years away.
Obasa further debunked the claim that the House spent N200 million on its recently organised 22nd thanksgiving service for staff.
“It is so funny. How much is the allocation of the Assembly in the whole year that we will decide to spend N17 billion on a gate? They even claimed that we expended 200 million on thanksgiving that did not hold.
“We are aware that at a period like this when we are approaching elections in 2027, we should expect such things. I think some people are scared and I don’t know why.
“This House did not and has not embarked on any such project. We are not that reckless. We had our thanksgiving last Friday and dignitaries from various parts of the State attended it,” the Speaker said.
Addressing further claims by the group about the alleged relationship between him and the chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Ola Olukoyede, the Speaker denied attending the latter’s screening and confirmation by the National Assembly.
“They said that I was at the National Assembly when they were confirming the EFCC chairman. I want to believe that there are CCTV cameras at the National Assembly to identify those who attended the event. The press must have written about it too. So the group should do more to confirm if I was there.
“This is just to deny the allegations in the interest of the public and not the writers because the writers are not those we should be joining words with,” the Speaker said.
Earlier, the House, through its spokesperson, Hon. Stephen Ogundipe, had addressed the allegations noting that the Assembly bases its activities on integrity, transparency and accountability.
“It is ludicrous the claim about constituency intervention funds and constituency project funds and their handling by Speaker Mudashiru Obasa and Clerk of the House, Barr. Olalekan Onafeko as claimed by the group.
“One would have expected a self-acclaimed anti-corruption crusading group to do its groundwork before jumping across the fence with conviction that it hit a jackpot to malign an institution of repute in the name of politics.
“Simply put, the Lagos State House of Assembly does not have any such funds. The Assembly does not embark on constituency projects. Instead, once every year, the House holds stakeholders’ meetings simultaneously across the state where constituents have the opportunity to tell the lawmakers their expectations and make requests for the betterment of the state.
“These requests and expectations are compiled and sent to the executive arm of government for consideration as inputs in subsequent budgets. If this is what the group takes as constituency intervention or project funds, we are sure this explanation has given the required education, moreover, it is common knowledge that it is the responsibility of the Executive arm to execute such projects,” the earlier statement by Ogundipe read.
Eromosele Ebhomele
Chief Press Secretary to the Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly.
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