A real estate firm, Millard Fuller Foundation in partnership with Selavip foundation, has unveiled a new housing scheme known as ‘zero-interest housing units for low-income earners in Nasarawa State.
The Chief Executive Officer of the foundation, Sam Odia, who spoke at the unveiling, in Luvu Madaki Community of Masaka, reiterated that a foundation is a unique approach to sustainable and affordable housing.
He disclosed that a total of 40 single-room units in blocks of four semi-detached studio flats, were built following an agreement with parties on the project, adding that each of the units has a bathroom and kitchen.
Odia said: “Our desire is to ensure that every low-income earner has a roof over his or her head. We want to ensure that everybody is able to have his or her own home, where they will not need to pay money to any landlord.”
He expressed worries over Nigeria’s infrastructural challenge and its impact on housing delivery while urging the government to reform the Nigeria Mortgage Refinancing Company to improve support for housing firms.
Representative of Etex Group, one of the partners on the project, Danladi Mwantok, said the scheme was designed to ensure growth in the community and for the people to live well.
He said: “People have to live in a decent house, after food the next thing is shelter. So, providing shelter for the less privileged is our goal.
“Millard Fuller Foundation was established in 2006 and since its inception, has contributed immensely towards reducing housing deficits in the country and empowering Nigerians.”
Also speaking, one of the beneficiaries of the homes, Martha Zakkariya, said: “I thank the Millard Fuller Foundation because it gave me a house. I will not pay house rent again. Nobody will come and disturb us about house rent again.”
Another beneficiary, Sunny Benjamin, said: “My prayer for the foundation is that God should empower it to do more of this and should never relent in doing the good work of God.”
