By Daniel Tyokua
The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Nyesom Wike has questioned officials of the government over the N85 billion abandoned affordable housing project in Wasa area of Abuja.
He stated this during a project tour with the Minister of state for FCT, Dr Mariya Mahmoud and management staff of FCT Administration on Monday to Wasa.
Wike queried the agreement that the FCDA provided infrastructure while the developers build affordable housing and sell to the masses without any benefit to government.
The minister said it would have been reasonable for government to get 10 percent of proceeds after providing funding while, the developers get 90 percent.
“Government provides land and infrastructure, then the private sector build and make money while government makes nothing, who does that?” He questioned.
“This arrangement is not acceptable, government can take, say, 10 percent, while the private sector take 90 percent.
“ The rate is equally not affordable for the masses. We will look at all these. We will not award contracts for awarding sake.”
The contract for the project was given in 2014 to Gilmor Construction Company at the cost of N28 billion and was reviewed in 2018 to N85 billion.
So far, N21 billion has been paid while N64 billion is outstanding. The project had not attained 24.5 percent completion after nine years.
At inception, the affordable houses were designed one bedroom and two bedrooms, with the two bedrooms to cost N7 million to 8 million.
In Kabusa junction where shanties were pulled down before the visit, Wike expressed satisfaction with the Abuja Environmental Protection Board, AEPB for clearing the shanties.
The road side market and the slum settlement was demolished early hours of Monday morning before the visit of the Minister.
