By Angela Atabo

The Federal Mortgage Bank of Nigeria (FMBN) says it has delivered 1,590 housing units and disbursed N9.5 billion in Home Renovation Loans to 10,601 civil servants through its partnership with Nasarawa State Government.

The Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of the bank, Shehu Osidi made this known when Gov. Abdullahi Sule of Nasarawa State, paid him a courtesy visit on Tuesday in Abuja.

Osidi said that the interventions were part of FMBN’s partnership with the Nasarawa State Government to expand access to affordable housing and improve the welfare of workers in the state.

“FMBN has strengthened its support for affordable housing development in Nasarawa State with the delivery of 1,590 housing units and the disbursement of N9.5 billion in Home Renovation Loans to 10,601 civil servants.

“It has also financed over 1,590 housing units across Nasarawa State. Beyond housing construction, we have disbursed over 9.5 billion dollars in home renovation loans to 10,601 civil servants in the state.

“This has enabled thousands of hardworking families to improve the quality of their homes. We are also financing mortgages for Nasarawa State civil servants.

“This is to enable them to acquire the houses being offered for sale under the State Government’s Owner-Occupier Housing Scheme.

“As of date, 94.7 billion dollars has been disbursed to the State Government with respect to 29 beneficiaries under the scheme.

“Furthermore, the Bank has refunded over 1.02 billion dollars in National Housing Fund(NHF) contributions to 5,462 retirees from Nassau State.”

Osidi said the bank ensured that workers who faithfully contributed to the NHF scheme received the benefits due to them upon retirement.

He restated the FMBN’s commitment to improving workers’ welfare and demonstrating that its partnership extended well beyond housing construction.

“We remain grateful for your Administration’s prompt issuance of certificates of occupancy for the Renewal Housing Project of the Federal Ministry of Housing and Urban Development in Shamu.

“This includes other FMBN proposed housing projects in Nasarawa State with locations in Lafia, Akwanga, Gudi, Keffi, and Toto in the first phase.”

Osidi said this substantially accelerated project implementation and reinforced the partnership between the State Government and FMBN.

He disclosed that construction at the Lafia site had reached an advanced stage, while work on other first-phase locations would commence before the end of the third quarter of the year.

Osidi said the bank financed major Renewed Hope Cities and Estates across the country, including projects in Abuja, Lagos, Kano, Enugu, Port Harcourt and other locations.

Also speaking, Gov. Abdullahi Sule of Nasarawa State, called for a stronger partnership with FMBN to accelerate the delivery of affordable housing and critical infrastructure.

Sule commended the bank for supporting President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Housing Agenda and expanding housing opportunities for Nigerians.

He described FMBN as a dependable development partner whose interventions aligned with Nasarawa State’s vision of becoming a leading investment and residential destination.

He applauded FMBN’s decision to commence housing projects in Lafia, Akwanga, Gudi, Keffi and Toto, describing the selected locations as strategic growth centres with unique economic advantages

He however, urged the bank to spotlight Karu local government area for more housing intervention due to its strategic closeness to the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

“A partnership with you and Nasarawa State becomes relevant and important and needs to be done now.

“I was the only governor actually at your project when Mr. President himself was the one that did the groundbreaking in Karasana. I was part of that because we are looking forward to our own coming in Nassarawa State.

“You kept the promise by coming to Nassarawa to establish these housing units in each one of those places.”

The governor said the state’s strategic location next to Abuja, coupled with ongoing infrastructure projects, particularly the construction of the 2.2-kilometre Mararaba flyover, would significantly improve connectivity between Nasarawa and FCT.

According to him, the project is comparable to the role played by Lagos’ Third Mainland Bridge in easing transportation and is expected to open up communities such as Masaka and Mararaba for rapid expansion.

He noted that Akwanga would benefit from the Federal Government’s newly inaugurated highway project linking Kaduna, Plateau, Bauchi, Gombe and Borno states.

According to him, Gudi is emerging as a centre for leadership education with the establishment of a specialised university focused on public relations and leadership studies.

Sule also highlighted Toto Local Government Area as a major hub for solid minerals and agriculture, citing the presence of lithium, marble, tantalite and vast agricultural resources supported by the River Benue.

He said the area was already attracting significant investments following the commissioning of one of Africa’s largest lithium processing plants in the state.

He said that improved housing infrastructure would support the influx of businesses and skilled workers.

He praised FMNB’s commitment to establishing housing estates across Nasarawa, saying the partnership would complement the state’s ongoing industrialisation drive and address Nigeria’s housing deficit.(NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Deji Abdulwahab