The National Housing Programme being anchored by the Ministry of Power, Works and Housing in Enugu and Ebonyi, has attained 70 per cent completion, according to officials.
Tina Ene, Deputy Director, Department of Public Building and Housing of the Ministry, said this while briefing journalists on Friday in Enugu at the end of an inspection of the projects.
It was gathered that all the housing units located at Ugwuogo Nike, Enugu East Council Area have been roofed except three units which have reached roofing level.
Ene, who is also the Team Leader, said 12 contractors were mobilised at the project site while many indigenous artisans and labourers were engaged.
In his words, “Infrastructure contracts which include water, electricity and road have been awarded while electricity and water contractors have begun work except road contract which will take off immediately.
“The electric poles have been erected with wires and the water tanks are in place too.”
The Official noted that from the inception of the programme, they relied on the use of locally manufactured materials as directed by the ministry, to promote made in Nigeria products.
“The doors, windows, tiles, water cistern, marble, kitchen sinks, including the roofing sheets are all locally made.
“But the ceiling boards, lighting fittings and locks are not locally manufactured in Nigeria, so we have to use imported ones.
“That exposes the fact that there is need for investors to go into such businesses to produce them.
“We have been using gypsum alternatively; a white mineral used to make plaster and it is used for ceiling board.’’
She said the problem with meeting the completion period was that most times when the contractors applied for their payment it would take a while before payments were made.
The project consisted of 72 housing units of one, two and three bedroom bungalows and it was started in April 2017.
One of the contractors, Partrick Maduagwu of the Hydraform Nigeria Limited, noted that funding was part of their problems with regard to the housing project because payment was made in stages.
“Ours is the interlocking type, and will not take us more than two weeks to round up.
“Under my company, I have employed about 15 artisans and I commended the Federal Government, I am happy that the project was awarded to my company. I will work according to schedule.
According to him, apart from the challenge of fund, the terrain of the project site made it difficult for them initially.
However, the housing project in Ebonyi is located at Ezzamgbo Ohaukwu Local Government Area and work has reached advance stage.
Olushola Idowu, Federal Comptroller of Power, Works and Housing (Housing Sector), Ebonyi said the project was between 70 and 75 per cent completion.
According to him, the housing project, when completed, will house different categories of Nigerians including the lower income earners.
“The project consists of 12 blocks of two-bedroom semi-detached bungalows with 24 units, eight blocks of three- bedroom bungalows of 16 units and three blocks of one bedroom bungalows with six units.
“It also has one block of condominium comprising 24 units of various capacities.
“The site has 12 contractors handling various types of buildings with distinct capacities and workforce.
“Over 95 per cent of the workforce at the site are indigenes while supply of building materials is predominantly carried out by indigenous traders.
He noted that over 1,000 indigenous workers were engaged at the site.
