… Says Nigeria needs N21tn to bridge housing gap
The Vice President, Senator Kashim Shettima on Sunday traveled to Argungu in Kebbi State on a condolence visit to the family of late Islamic scholar, Sheikh Abubakar Giro following his trip to Sokoto State.
The Vice President whom on a condolence visit on behalf of President Tinubu, reaffirmed the President’s promises to Nigerians whilst announced that the federal government has obtained $163 million dollar loan from the African Development Bank to support wheat production.
Shettima, in a statement signed by the Director Information, Office of the Vice President, Olusola Abiola, described late Sheikh Abubakar Giro’s death as a great loss not only the to the state but to the nation and West Africa.
He said: “Late Sheikh Abubakar Giro was a respected scholar. He worked for God, he didn’t bother about things of the world he lived a humble life. May God forgive his shortcomings and grant him eternity.”
On the administration’s efforts to ensure food security in the country, the Vice President clarified, “we have obtained a $163 million dollar loan from the African Development Bank to support wheat production. The scheme would be launched soon.
“We need 10,000 hectares of land in Kebbi State. But the scheme would be well executed in Jigawa State with a cultivation of 50,000 hectares of land to boost wheat production.”
In their votes of thanks, the the Emir of Argungu, HRH, Sumaila Mohammed Mera and the National Leader of the Izala Sect, Sheikh Bala Lau, commended President Bola Tinubu and Vice President Shettima for their show of love.
Similarly, the Vice President Shettima prior to his trip to Argungu, Kebbi State, visited Sokoto State for the groundbreaking ceremony of the construction of a 500-unit Housing Estate by the State government on Saturday.
Shettima who decried the slow pace of progress in the housing sector despite efforts by the federal government across different levels, disclosed that N21 trillion will be required to effectively bridge the huge gap.
He said: “Nigeria has a deficit of 28 million houses and we will need N21 trillion to meet our housing needs”.
Senator Shettima who acknowledged Governor Ahmed Aliyu for his efforts in addressing the housing needs of his people, stated that such feat is highly commendable and worthy of emulation by other state governments.
In his remark, the Sokoto State Governor, Ahmed Aliyu, said the N7.3 billion housing project located at Wamakko Local Government Area of the State, when completed will be sold to civil servants at an ‘owner-occupier basis’.
He emphasized: “This is a project that was initiated by the former Governor of the State, Aliyu Magatakarda Wamakko but was later abandoned by the immediate past administration but we are determined to complete it for the benefit of our workers and the general public”.