The Federal Government has concluded arrangements to provide affordable housing for officers of the Nigerian Air Forces (NAF) covering low, middle and high level income earners towards meeting their housing needs.

To this effect, the Ministry of Housing and Urban Development is preparing to offer the whole estate in Bauchi State to the NAF at a discounted rate to be paid based on instalment arrangements.

The minister, Ahmed Dangiwa, dropped the hint when the Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Hassan Bala Abubakar, led a delegation of key officers on a courtesy visit to the ministry in Abuja

Dangiwa also assured NAF of the Ministry’s readiness to provide housing units to its personnel under the National Housing Program (NHP) at subsidised rates to encourage officers in their quest to provide security and protect Nigeria’s sovereignty

He stated, “We recognise the importance of providing suitable housing for men and officers of the Nigerian Airforce. We assure them of our commitment to working with them towards meeting the needs of our Airforce.

“The leadership of the ministry under the Renewed Hope Housing Agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has provided various options to enable Nigerians become homeowners like the estates programme launched at Karsana, Abuja is one opportunity available to citizens.”

The minister stressed that the vision is aimed at providing 50,000 affordable housing nationwide under phase 1, which has started in 13 locations and Abuja to contain 3112 units, 500 units in Kano State under a Public Private Partnership (PPP) arrangement.

Similarly, he stressed the various purchasing options available to potential buyers to include; outright, rent-to-own, instalment and mortgage loans with a single-digit interest payable under a 30 30-year period.

Earlier, Air Marshal Abubakar, while commending the minister for the achievement recorded so far under his leadership, said they were in the ministry to seek collaboration on providing affordable houses for their personnel covering both the officers in service and post-service years.

He also appealed to the National Housing Programme, Bauchi housing units to either be given to Nigeria Airforce free or sold to them at a discounted rate with friendly payment terms, as acquiring it will go a long way to enhance the “operational readiness of the force.

“We would collaborate with the Ministry to engage the NAF Investment Limited Housing and Construction Company in the ongoing construction of the Cities and Estate projects. The firm has handled civil works and construction of houses, like the one in Asokoro District.”