Kebbi state Governor, Abubakar Bagudu has approved allocation of 22,000 plots of land across the state under the Accelerated Residential Plots Programme which is expected to take off soon.
This was revealed by the Commissioner for Lands, Housing and Urban Development, Alhaji Sadiq Yelwa at the end of a collaborative meeting between the Ministries of Lands, Housing and Urban Development, as well as that of Local Governments and Chieftaincy Affairs, together with the 21 Local Governments Chairmen.
The Commissioner said that, the programme was initiated by the Governor to enable first time land owners to build their own houses in line with the aspiration of governor Abubakar Atiku Bagudu.
This , he noted, was also in the bid to drastically reduce the housing deficits across the state and make housing affordable to people in the state..
According to Yelwa, the meeting had reached various resolutions which include the programme aims to address the shortages of shelter in the state.
He further explained that, the meeting had also resolved to design , produce and distribute the 22,000 plots within the state .
Yelwa stated that, the plots will be classified into higher, medium-sized and low densities.
He stated that, Birnin Kebbi, the state capital and where more than seventy per cent of the workers reside will be alllocated 7,000 plots.
In the same vein, major towns that include Argungu, Yauri Zuru, Jega, Koko and Kamba will each have 1,500 plots.
Accordingly , while other local governments headquarters will each have 535 plots.
Yelwa disclosed that, interested applicants will be required to pay stipulated amounts, which automatically qualifies them to own the plots . He said that, payments for more than the number of the available plots will not be received .
On the money to be paid by the applicants, Yelwa disclosed that those in Birnin Kebbi will pay N200,000, N150,00 and N100,000, for low, medium and high densities plots, respectively.
Those in Argungu, Yauri, Jega, Zuru, Koko and Kamba, will each pay N120,000, N80,000 and N60,000, for low ,medium and high densities plots, respectively.
Yelwa explained that, the allocation costs are for accessibility of the land and for the provision of infrastructures.
According to him, the Ministry of Lands, Housing and Urban Development and the 21 Local Governments were assiduously working to provide the most important infrastructures.
” The costs of the plots are to be used in defraying the costs of land acquisition,while the local governments will assist the programme by providing infrastructures,” he added.
Yelwa said that, the plots will be made accessible,while the Programme will be a continous one, depending on the success of the first phase.
The Commissioner stated that, application forms will be available for sale to the members of the general public soonest, while first time owners will be given top priority.
He stated that, the applicants should contact the nearest zonal offices across the state and the Ministry of Local Governments Headquarters.
Yelwa said that , the Ministry of Lands,Housing and Urban Development has identified and selected suitable sites across the state..
He added:” The meeting felicitated with the Governor for this noble and people – orieneted initiative.”
In his remarks, the Hon. Commissioner , Ministry for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Alhaji Hassan Muhammad Shalla while commending the governor for the initiative, reemphasized that the sales of the forms would not exceed the number of plots.
This he said was to ensure justice and equity to applicants.
On his part, the Chairman of Jega Local Government who double as the Kebbi State ALGON chairman and the National Vice President of ALGON, Barrister Shehu Marshall expressed full support of the 21 local government areas of the state for the success of the program.
‘ We will give our full support for the smooth success of the housing program ‘, he averred.
He equally appreciated the concern of the governor for his keen interest in making sure people especially the commoners get access to land to construct their houses.
Signed,
YAHAYA SARKI
Special Adviser (SA) Media to Kebbi State Governor
20/1/2021
