Federal Integrated Staff Housing Scheme, FISH is for all Nigerians -Shehuri

The Federal Integrated Housing Scheme (FISH) is for all Nigerians, according to the Minister of State for Power, Works and Housing, Alhaji Mustapha Shehuri.

The minister made the clarification on Monday after inspecting the 76 housing units under construction  in Dutse,  Jigawa.

“These houses are not exclusively a privilege for civil servants, they are for all Nigerians.

“They are for all Nigerians because everyone has the right to housing or shelter,” he said.

According to him, the Federal Government is also looking at the possibility of providing road infrastructure in the estate.

Shehuri further pleaded with the contractors to plant trees after completing the project, to help develop the ecosystem of the estate.

“I want to appeal to you, to try as much as you can to plant tree after you must have completed the project to help develop the ecosystem of the estate.

”You will also get rewarded continuously as those to occupy the house will continue to pray for you,” Shehuri said.

“I am impressed with the level of work I have seen here, the project began just two months ago, by the grace of God; it will be completed in the next two months. So I really commend your good work,” Shehuri told the contractors.

He expressed concern that the project was unable to commence in most of the states due to non allocation of land by the affected state governments.

“Even in my state, Borno, the project began two weeks ago; it is yet to start in most states due to lack land.

“We wrote to all the states of the federation to give us land for the project.

`The project is sited near towns or cities, the land may be farms or personal land belonging to individuals and the state governments, ‘’he said.

The minister who also identified the issue of compensation for owners of land, for such project, as one of the challenges, however, said funding was not part of the problem.

“Funding the project is not a problem to the federal government, as soon as land is given to us by any state government, the project will start immediately.”

Mr Chiambe Felix, the Controller, Federal Ministry of Works, Power and House in the state had earlier told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) that the project had reached about 70 per cent completion.

Felix, who said that 15 contractors were handling the project, assured that the project would be completed within the stipulated time.

The project comprises 48 units of two bedroom semi-detached bungalows and 24 units of three bedroom semi-detached bungalows.

“By the grace of God, the project will be completed within the stipulated time.

“The project will be rounded up before July, work has reached roofing stage and is about 70 per cent completion,” he said. (NAN)