The Minister of State for the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Dr Ramatu Tijjani Aliyu, has called for adequate funding for the 5,000 Wasa Affordable Housing project in Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC).
Dr Aliyu made the call Tuesday in Abuja while leading members of the Senate Committee on FCT on assessment tour of some sites within the territory.
She told the committee members led by the Chairman, Senator Smart Adeyemi (APC Kogi West), that lack of funding or inadequate funding for the 5 000 Affordable Housing project has been its bane.
“If there is no issue of aggressive and critical funding to this project, we will come back to a review situation.
“With the economic situation of this country; with the accelerated prices of goods in the market which causes the incessant increase in what we buy and the prices of labour, we will need to sit.
“We need to look into areas of collaboration with the Senate to ensure that there is adequate funding for this critical project to ensure the takeoff of the affordable housing to give succor to residents.
“As long as we keep reviewing, the prices will not be affordable,” she said.
While commending Gilmor Engineering (Nigeria) Limited, Aliyu said that the company had been able to tackle the issue of insecurity at the site with the construction of a Police Station.
She however said that more needed to be done to ensure that there was security to lives and property.
In his remarks, Senator Smart Adeyemi, said, “the essence of the assessment tour is to be able to look at projects as we work the budget.
“I’m particularly impressed with the presentation made by the minister of state and the engineer.
“Democracy is all about good governance. And when you talk about good governance you talk about the protection and improvement of lives of people and property.
“This is one project that I’m particularly delighted and I want to commend the minister for allowing this project to continue in spite of the long years that we have been waiting for its completion.
“We will be able to look at the budget. We are going to look at how we can assist this project more than what was provided.
“We are all in the struggle of the improvement of the wellbeing of the people. So we will do all we can,” he said.
