By Caleb Ayansina

The Nigeria Civil Service Union (Federal Council) has unveiled plans to build over 600 affordable housing units to address the problem of accommodation faced by workers in the nation’s capital.

The N400 billion project named Blossom Court will be built in collaboration with the Blancmansion Nigeria Limited. The first phase of the project will take off with about 150 housing units.

Located at Karish in the New Karu Local Government Area of  Nasarawa State, Blosson Court, according to developer, will on completion, have modern facilities.

Performing the groundbreaking ceremony, the chairman of the Union, Comrade Lawrence Amechi explained that the estate is for public servants. However, members of the public who indicate interest can also be accommodated in the scheme.

Amechi said the workers’ union embarked upon the project through their cooperative society because most of the estates in the FCT are not affordable to the workers.

He said the union has made solid arrangement with a reputable mortgage institution to ensure that workers become house owners with their contributions to the National Housing Fund, NHF

“The project will not be one of those projects where people after subscription find it difficult to take possession of their houses; the workers will not be disappointed without compromising standard.

The project will be beneficial because if you look into Abuja, the standard of living is high and this particular one we have designed, will be affordable. It is over subscribed and we have a payment pattern that is very easy,” he said.

Continuing, Amechi said: “The issue of mortgage will not be a problem. We have almost five banks that are ready to spread the payment as long as you perceive it will give you comfort. You can be living in the house and still paying for it. The payment pattern is okay.”

Speaking in an interview with Vanguard Homes & Property, the Managing Director of the Blancmansion Limited, Mr Bennett Ezeta explained that the beauty of the project is that the subscribers could decide to settle for either the finished house or the carcass house and complete it by themselves.

He said that the project would be completed within 24 months at a cost of about N400 billion. Off-takers, he said, would take delivery of their houses within 12 months.