Yobe okays N17b for 3,600 housing units

The Yobe State Executive Council (SEC) has approved N15.96 billion for the completion of 3,600 houses across the state.The housing projects, which are in phases, are sited in the 17 councils of the state.

While briefing journalists on the Wednesday SEC meeting in Damaturu, the Commissioner for Information, Abdullahi Bego, disclosed that the council approved new contracts and ratified three others.

According to him, the above was to move the state forward, despite fiscal challenges.

“The council, however, decided that the housing project would be pursued in phases,” he noted, adding that in the first phase, 1,800 houses would be built across the councils. Bego said the houses include 701 units of three-bedroom apartments, 324 units of two-bedroom urban design and 775 units of rural building design.

“Funds for the construction of the 3,600 housing units have been secured from the Federal Ministry of Finance through the Family Homes Finance,” he disclosed, adding that the SEC also ratified N1.1 billion for the supply of 50 Toyota Hiace Buses for Yobe Transport Services.He noted that most of the vehicles owned by government’s transport company were not road-worthy.

The procurement has become inevitable to reinvigorate the fleet of Yobe Transport Company for efficient service delivery, he said.On other projects to be completed, he asserted: “Over N409.6 million has been earmarked for the construction of a kilometre road project linking Obasanjo Estate and Mattari Ward, Damaturu.

“Three million seedlings are to be raised with the rehabilitation of three nurseries at Nguru, Gashua and Bayamari at N136 million.”