- Safiu Kehinde
Kogi state government has vowed to reclaim all illegally housing units in the state.
This was disclosed in a statement issued on Friday.
As contained in the statement made available to NPO Reports, the State Commissioner for Housing and Urban Development, Hon. Abanika Taiye, expressed distress over the alarming issue of illegal occupation of properties under the National Housing Program (NHP) in the state.
The NHP, according to th statement, is a national initiative, aims to provide accessible, sustainable, and affordable housing solutions for all kogites
Meanwhile , the Commissioner noted that recent assessments reveal that approximately 85% of the housing units in Phases 1, 2, and 3 of the NHP have been forcefully occupied by unauthorized individuals.
“This not only disrupts the program’s intended purpose but also compromises the dreams and aspirations of rightful beneficiaries Hon. Taiye stated”
To address this issue, the Commissioner stated that the Ministry has taken steps to rectify the situation, including collecting and processing houses deposited back to the office to identify and fine-tune them for rightful ownership.
He said that the state government is preparing to hand over keys to legitimate subscribers who have followed due process and fulfilled program requirements.
However, he reiterated the Ministry’s commitment to the need for urgent action to address the illegal invasion of these properties.
Robust law enforcement interventions are necessary to safeguard these houses, restore order, and ensure legitimate occupants can reclaim their rightful homes.
The Ministry, as noted in the statement, remains committed to housing equity and empowerment of all citizens through the NHP.
In the same vein, the state government pledged to prioritize the issue.
“The state government will prioritize this issue, collaborating with Kogi people to implement effective solutions that protect the program’s integrity and beneficiaries.
“Together, we can ensure the vision of accessible, sustainable, and affordable housing is fulfilled for all citizens of Kogi State.” The statement read further.