Kogi state government says it will be coming up with new policy that will checkmate the excesses of landlords in the state.
The State Commissioner for Housing and Urban Development, Hon. Abanika Taiye disclosed this on Tuesday in Lokoja during a press briefing ahead of a two days symposium of stakeholders in housing and urban development in Kogi state.
Taiye averred that the present administration is aware of the pains of the masses due to housing deficits, adding that the government is currently building 1000 housing units for civil servants in the state.
He warned that any property owner found wanting for giving their houses to individuals that has a questionable sources of income will be arrested and prosecuted.
The Commissioner appealed to the people of Kogi State to collaborate with the government to address this problem in earnest.
“We are creating awareness and trying to bring all the stakeholders in the building environment, including citizens of Kogi State so that we can all sit and dialogue, by coming up with a blueprint that will guide in the provision of houses for the people of Kogi State.
“Policy and law is very important in many organizations or ministry. When it is made and strictly complied with, we will be able to check the excesses of property owners or landlords in the State. Our ministry has already put in place policies and measures that will check the excesses of the landlords.
“It will be passed into law so that the law will guide everyone when it is passed. We are still on that stage on passing the bill into law which will make emphasis on housing, rentage and make life easy for the people.
“Governor Ododo is a people friendly Governor and want the best for the citizens of Kogi state. We won’t leave any stone unturned to ensure that there is affordable accommodations for all in Kogi state,” he said.
Ahead of the symposium with the theme “modern housing and urban renewal in Kogi State” scheduled for 27th to 28th November 2024, the Commissioner said “the symposium is geared towards sensitizing the populace of Kogi state about the plans of the state government towards reducing the housing deficits in the state.
“Our Excellency, the amiable Governor and Chief Servant of Kogi State Alhaji Ahmed Usman Ododo has taken the bull by the horn and has been doing a lot of things in his magnanimity to make sure that life is meaningful to the citizens of Kogi State.
“He has a lot of things on the pipe line in terms of housing for all. The Governor is determined to provide affordable housing for all the teaming populace of the state.
“The Governor has it as part of his campaign promises that houses will be provided for the people of Kogi State. When he assumed office in January 2024, the Ministry of Housing and Urban Development which was newly created was mandated to work assiduously in making sure that there are houses for all in Kogi State.
“The Governor immediately swung into action to pull federal presence in the State. We went to the Federal Government to key into the renewed hope agenda of the President of Nigeria Senator Bola Ahmed Tinubu in providing houses for all Nigerians.
“We have joined the Federal Ministry of Housing and Urban Development by giving them land running to 100 hectares in Kogi State for the renewed hope housing projects. We have also pull in Federal Housing Authority by giving them another 100 hectares of land all with the aim of providing affordable houses for the citizens.
“We also have a federal family home funds which the Kogi State Government has also keyed into and is trying to access that funds all towards providing affordable housing for the people. For the state, our Governor is working hard today to provide houses for the people in Kogi State.
“We have captured all the preliminary works towards providing houses for civil servants, political appointees and all our citizens. The Government is on top of it. This housing estate is being captured in the 2025 budget. We will achieve all this in the tenure of this administration. Kogites should be rest assured that the hike in the prices of rentage in the State will drastically reduce by the time all this housing projects come to stay in the State”.
