Akwa Ibom to partner FMBN in workers’ low-cost housing

Akwa Ibom State Governor, Mr. Udom Emmanuel, has pledged to work with the management of Federal Mortgage Bank of Nigeria (FMBN), to ensure that low and medium-income workers in the state own houses at retirement.

He made this promise when Board of Directors and the Management staff of the Federal Mortgage Bank of Nigeria (FMBN), paid him a courtesy call in his office in Uyo.

Represented by the Secretary to the state government, Dr. Emmanuel Ekuwem, he noted that, the era where some workers in the state within the low-medium income retired without a home is over.

He assured the bank and workers in the state that his administration was determined to partner with FMBN to construct affordable housing units for low -income workers in the three senatorial districts of the state.

The governor reiterated his promise to workers during his campaigns, that he would explore every opportunity aimed at enhancing the welfare and the socio-economic life of the citizenry. He added that his contribution to the scheme is geared towards enabling Akwa Ibom workers to access a loan with ease to acquire affordable houses.

He commended the management of the bank for leaving above partisanship by spreading development across the country and called on the bank to put machinery in place for speedy access to loans by both Akwa Ibom and Nigerian workers.

“The governor and all of us in his administration are interested in transforming the industrial landscape of Akwa Ibom State. We are interested in making a difference in the lives of Akwa Ibom people and housing is part of that. We want to make sure that, people lives in affordable and comfortable houses”, he said.

In his speech, the Chairman, Board of Directors of the Bank, Dr Adewale Adaeyo said that they were in the state for a retreat, noting that, their visit was to inform the governor of several products available in the bank for the overall benefits of his people.

According to him, the Central Bank of Nigeria is a co-manager of the National Housing Fund (NHF) Scheme, adding that, FMBN in collaboration with CBN has provided personal homes to many Nigerians who have accessed their loans facility.

“We are giving affordable homes to Nigerians who access our loans through the payment of their monthly emolument that we derive from their salaries every month”, he said.

Earlier, the Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer, FMBN, Ahmed Dangiwa, solicited the cooperation of the governor towards the signing of the Mortgage Foreclosure Act into law to assist Akwa Ibom people in the procurement of the Certificate of Occupancy that would enable them access N15 million National Housing Fund (NHF) loan to build their personal houses.

“We are collaborating closely with the Head of Service of the State and the leadership of NLC and TUC in the state to deliver these houses after completion to workers”.