‘The Federal Government has issued a stern warning to developers working on the Renewed Hope Housing Projects, threatening to demolish any structures that fail to meet the required standards.
Contracts could also be revoked if substandard work is detected, the Housing and Urban Development Minister, Arc Ahmed Musa Dangiwa, declared during an inspection in Kano State on Friday.
“We will not tolerate any substandard work found on any Renewed Hope Project Site anywhere in the country,” Dangiwa warned. “If we identify any poor-quality construction, we will first demolish the structure, and the contractor will have to rebuild it according to standard or we revoke the contract entirely.”
The minister led a team, including Minister of State Rt. Hon. Yusuf Abdullahi Ata and Permanent Secretary Dr. Shuaib Belgore, to inspect the 1,500-unit and 500-unit Renewed Hope Housing City projects. While the 1,500-unit project, executed through a Public-Private Partnership (PPP) with Continental Civil Engineering, was praised for its progress, concerns were raised over delays in the 500-unit project funded by the 2023 supplementary budget.
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Dangiwa emphasized that the administration of President Bola Tinubu is committed to providing high-quality housing for Nigerians. He stressed that all developers must adhere strictly to contractual terms to ensure durability. “We want developers to adhere to the timeline and complete these projects within two to three months,” he added.
The Renewed Hope Housing Project, launched in February 2024, aims to address Nigeria’s housing deficit with a blend of government-funded estates and privately developed cities. The government is overseeing the construction of 2,000 housing units in Kano, 3,112 in the FCT, and 2,000 in Lagos, alongside twelve Renewed Hope Estates across the six geopolitical zones.
The minister also highlighted the economic benefits of the initiative, noting that it creates jobs for masons, laborers, artisans, and suppliers of building materials. He instructed ministry officials to closely monitor all project sites and report any quality violations for immediate action.
With rising concerns about affordable housing, the Renewed Hope Estates, funded through government budgets, offer a more affordable option for Nigerians by providing subsidies and free land from state governments. In contrast, the Renewed Hope Cities, developed through PPPs, often come at higher prices due to high-interest loans covering land and infrastructure costs.
The Federal Government’s resolve to maintain strict quality standards is seen as a significant move to protect citizens’ investments and improve the nation’s housing infrastructure.