Abuja:The Minister of Housing and Urban Development, Muttaqa Darma, has committed to reviving the long-abandoned 120-unit housing project in Gwagwalada, Abuja. During a recent inspection of the site, Darma emphasized the ministry’s dedication to ensuring the project is completed by December 2026, thereby benefiting Nigerian families.
According to News Agency of Nigeria, Darma noted that while the ministry may not directly fund the project’s completion, they are exploring other avenues to ensure the housing units are delivered to the public. He highlighted the unacceptable nature of abandoning a project that could provide homes for 120 families and stressed the importance of completing such initiatives to avoid wasting taxpayers’ money.
Darma also expressed concerns regarding the current condition of some structures at the site, suggesting that reconstruction or reinforcement might be necessary. He called for innovative solutions to finalize the project.
Mrs. Ene Agada, Assistant Director, Public Buildings and Housing Development in the ministry, explained that the project commenced in 2016 but faced delays due to approval processes, the COVID-19 pandemic, and rising construction costs. The contractors originally involved withdrew due to economic challenges, prompting the ministry to re-award the project to new contractors after scaling down its scope to match available funds.
Mr. Pemi Temitope, Director of Public Buildings and Housing Development, added that although the second set of contractors had started work, they too faced issues due to increased construction costs and were awaiting advance payments and outstanding valuations. The ministry plans to continue engaging with the contractors and explore alternative funding to complete the housing project.