Renewed Hope Housing Programme: Nigeria Army to Partner Federal Housing
Authority.




The Nigeria Army will be partnering with Federal Housing Authority to provide befitting houses for officers and men of the force.
This position was made known by the Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Toareed Lagbaja, Thursday 16th May, 2024 when the Managing Director and Chief Executive of the Authority, Hon Oyetunde Oladimeji Ojo paid him a courtesy visit.


Hon Ojo had in his address Congratulated the COAS for his visible efforts that has greatly improved security in the country. He however told the Army Chief that the primary purpose of his visit was to bring the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu(GCFR) on housing to the Nigeria Army.


The MD re emphasized the President's interest in giving Nigerians befitting not just houses, but livable and affordable ones, a factor that featured prominently in his manifesto. He said that it is in looking for a way to factor in the officers and men of the Nigeria Army that the visit to the Chief of Army Staff became most imperative. To under pin the seriousness FHA has in providing houses to the Army personnel for their sacrifices in protecting the nation, Hon Ojo noted that he had earlier paid a similar visit to the Chief of Defence Staff.


According to the FHA boss, " We have come to discuss how to provide not just houses to the Nigeria Army, but livable and affordable ones ". Speaking further, the MD noted , "it is only proper for the Army to defend us as we are to shelter you. We therefore want to have a synergy with you".


Hon Ojo while commending the efforts of the force to provide houses for its personnel, noted that due to the spread of of the officers and men throughout the nook and crannies of the country, it will be highly challenging to provide houses for them. In his words, he said, "despite your housing projects in parts of the country, you have many men all over the country, whom you can not reach. We want a partnership that will get to all your men throughout the country ".


The FHA MD was emphatic on the resolution of the Authority’s management at targeting the junior officers. This he revealed is why the houses would be delivered as carcas, where the exterior would have a prototype finishing, with electricals and plumbing, leaving the interior finishing to individual taste and capacity. He noted that it is needless to impose finishing on people, which is what makes disposal prices of houses to go beyond the reach of the very junior one. " We want to do a project the soldiers can afford. That is why our management has decided to deliver carcas", he added.


Hon Ojo also pointed that the morale of the soldiers would be highly boosted if they know that they have livable houses of their own during and post service.

As an incentive, the FHA boss said the Authority would consider the men of Nigeria Army at a reduced price. This he said has been made possible because some of the Governor's have given the Authority land free in their states. This he said would greatly reduce the cost.

The MD also noted that the Value Chain of Housing construction would create direct and indirect jobs, engage our youths and help check insecurity.


He therefore said that once buy - in of the Army is secured, FHA's team would meet the Army's team for the designs.
In his response, the Chief of Army Staff stated that the Nigeria Army welcomes the initiative to provide houses for its personnel. The Army according to him is highly disposed to providing an enabling environment for the soldiers in and outside service.


Speaking further, General Lagbaja noted that the Army is highly concerned about the families of the personnel, which is a major reason why it engages in building houses. "We are focused on the families of our men. That is why we engage in building. We are not in competition with FHA", he said.


The COAS pointed out that the soldiers need lots of support, especially due to the nature of their deployment. He noted that the Army needs FHA because of the Authority’s capacity and r