By Yinka Kolawole
President Goodluck Jonathan has affirmed the commitment of his administration to the development of mass housing for Nigerians in a way that will ensure that the sector contributes not less than 20 percent to the country’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP).

The President, according to a statement by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Mr. Ima Niboro, disclosed this recently at the ground breaking ceremony of the Goodluck Ebele Jonathan Housing Estate in Civil Service Village, Kabai District of Kubwa, Abuja.

Jonathan disclosed plans by the Federal Government to construct 845,000 housing units for civil servants nationwide.

He said from the 845,000 units, the Federal Ministry of Lands, Housing and Urban Development has been mandated to construct 600,000 housing units as part of the federal government’s plan for the housing sector across the country.

This, he was quoted in the statement, is in addition to 240,000 units to be built by the Federal Housing Authority (FHA) and another 5,000 units would be constructed through public-private- partnership arrangement.

He expressed optimism that the mass housing initiative of government would solve the problem of shortage of housing for the civil servants and provide job opportunities for the youth in the country.

The first phase of the GEJ Housing estate project, on completion, will consists of a total of 3,292 high and low density houses, and is expected to be completed within three years.

The President urged the civil servants to see the initiative as part of government’s efforts at providing the requisite environment for them to give their best in support of the administration’s transformation efforts. He praised the foresight of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Prof. Oladapo Afolabi, and his team, for initiating the scheme and collaborating with the private sector for its funding.

In his remarks, Afolabi noted that the presence of Jonathan at the ground breaking ceremony was a demonstration of his commitment and interest in enhancing the capacity of the civil service through improved welfare of the workers.

He urged the civil servants to remain loyal, faithful and committed to the government and strive to build institutions that would continue to drive government programmes.