Governor Sule flags off 430 housing units for Nasarawa workers in Lafia

Governor Abdullahi Sule of Nasarawa State has performed the groundbreaking ceremony for the construction of 430 affordable housing units under the Federal Mortgage Bank of Nigeria workers housing scheme in Lafia.

The event, which took place last Thursday at the project site beside Precious FM Akurba along Shendam road, attracted workers, traditional rulers and top government functiinaries from across the state.

Speaking at the ceremony, Governor Sule said the project was part of his administration’s commitment to providing affordable housing for civil servants in the state.

He explained that the partnership with FMBN would ensure that workers who have been contributing to the National Housing Fund can finally become home owners.

The Governor disclosed that the idea for the project started in 2021, long before the current management of FMBN came on board, adding that the state government had been looking for ways to address the housing needs of workers and the partnership with the bank provided the opportunity to make it happen.

“FMBN should take more of the accolades than myself because it is okay to have a dream. A dream without money is no dream. There is no need to have that dream. The dream of this project came alive because my dear brother decided to select Nasarawa State as one of the beneficiaries of the wonderful reforms that he is bringing to the FMBN,” he said.

The Governor recalled that his administration had earlier sold houses along Doma Road to workers at affordable prices, taking into cognizance the N70, 000 minimum wage, saying that the new housing scheme would follow the same model of making sure that workers can afford to own their own homes.

“Housing is not just a shelter but dignity, stability and family security. It is also an asset that builds wealth that can be passed from one generation to another and strengthens communities,” he added.

Governor Sule explained that the project was a product of years of reforms under the Nasarawa Economic Development Strategy, noting that the state government had streamlined land administration and improved land title documentation to reduce bottlenecks in acquiring land.

He added that the government also strengthened the public private partnership framework by making procurement and project delivery more transparent.

“These reforms created an enabling environment that gave confidence to our federal partners and made this project financing possible,” the Governor said.

He commended the Managing Director of FMBN, Mr Shehu Usman Osidi, for choosing Nasarawa State as one of the beneficiaries of the bank’s housing programme, describing Osidi as a proud son of the state who is using his position to bring development to his people.

The Governor also thanked President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for supporting housing initiatives for workers across the country. He commended NAGIS, the Ministry of Lands and NASIDA for their roles in making the project a reality.

In his remarks, the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of FMBN, Mr Shehu Usman Osidi, said the groundbreaking marked another milestone in the bank’s efforts to deliver affordable housing to Nigerian workers.

“On behalf of the board, management, and staff of the FMBN, it is my pleasure and honour to welcome His Excellency, the Executive Governor of Nasarawa State, Engr A. A. Sule and all stakeholders present here today for this historic groundbreaking ceremony,” Osidi said.

He said the event was not just about starting a housing project but a celebration of visionary leadership and partnership aimed at improving the lives of the people of Nasarawa State.

Osidi commended Governor Sule for his commitment to development, noting that under his leadership, Nasarawa State has witnessed remarkable progress in infrastructure, urban expansion and investment promotion.

“Across the state, the evidence of purposeful governance and steady progress is there for all to see. Nigerians can readily attest that today, Nasarawa State stands taller, and more economically viable because of your giant strides,” he said.

The FMBN boss disclosed that over 430 housing units would be built in the first phase of the project across four locations covering the three senatorial zones of the state. He listed the locations to include Akwanga, Lafia, Gudi, Toto, Doma and Keana.

He said the new developments were in addition to over 1,590 housing units already financed by FMBN in Nasarawa State, assuring that the bank would work with the developers to ensure speedy delivery of the project.

Speaking on behalf of all the Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) that colabotated to bring the vision to reality, Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, Nasarawa State Investment Development Agency (NASIDA), Ibrahim Abdullahi, said the project did not happen by accident but as a result of careful planning and leadership from Governor Sule.

“Your Excellency, as you know, as the chief visioner driving the delivery of the NEDS, projects like these don’t just come by accident. They are products of careful planning and leadership from the front,” Abdullahi said.

He recalled that when Governor Sule took over in 2019, financial institutions were hesitant to partner with Nasarawa State on housing projects. He said the state was not viable then and its balance sheet was not strong.

“Today, just a year plus to the end of your administration, you are keeping the promise. You have made Nasarawa State extremely viable. Not only that, you are attracting partners like the FMBN to come and implement housing projects for the benefit of the people of the state, from their own balance sheet, not Nasarawa State’s balance sheet,” he said.

The organised labour also spoke at the event, with the Secretary General of the Trade Union Congress, Comrade Nuhu Toro, describing the project as a foundation for dignity and stability for workers.

“Today’s event is not just about laying blocks; it is about laying the foundation for dignity, stability and social security for Nigerian workers. Housing remains one of the most critical needs of the Nigerian working class. For many workers, owning a home is a lifetime aspiration that often seems out of reach. This initiative therefore represents hope, relief and progress,” Toro said.

The representative of the Nigeria Labour Congress also commended Governor Sule and FMBN for redeeming workers through the provision of affordable housing.

What makes this groundbreaking significant is its timing. Governor Sule has less than a year left in office, a period when many governors usually shift their attention to politics and succession battles. But here he was, performing the groundbreaking for a new project that will benefit workers long after he might have left office.

This is not the first time the Governor has shown this kind of commitment in recent weeks. He has set aside N6 billion as take-off fund for the newly established Dalhatu Araf Specialist Hospital in Akwanga. He has also announced plans to build an Olympic-size stadium in Lafia. He has inaugurated solar-powered boreholes in Keffi communities and distributed 30,000 bags of rice to vulnerable residents.

Nigeria is facing a huge housing deficit estimated at between 15 and 28 million units. The federal ministry of housing budgeted only about N105 billion in 2026, which is barely two percent of the N5 trillion needed every year to make meaningful progress. Projects like the FMBN Affordable Workers Housing Scheme are therefore critical in closing this gap.

The housing units are targeted at civil servants and low to middle income workers who have been contributing to the National Housing Fund. For many of them, owning a home has been a dream that seemed out of reach. This project brings that dream closer to reality