Why Yobe’s 3,600 multi-billion naira housing project is yet to take-off - investigation

Gov. Buni during the foundation laying ceremony of the houses in sept.

After more than two months that Gov. Mai Mala Buni performed a grand-breaking foundation ceremony for the construction of 3,600 houses across the state at the cost of over N10 billion, none of the blocks is yet to be raised in any part of the state, ImpactOnlineNigeria  investigation has gathered.

The non-takeoff of the multi-billion-naira project has raised concern among people in the state as the sites of the projects remain deserted since after inauguration on September, 5^th, 2019.

The Managing Director and Chief Executive, Yobe State Housing and Property Corporation, Engr. Mohammed Jeni said his office cannot give any information on the status of the project except he gets clearance from the office of the Secretary to the State Government when he was contacted.

But the press secretary to the SSG, Shaiubu Abdullahi denied that his boss’ office has nothing to do with the project when this reporter made a similar request from him.

“The SSG office don’t award contracts. We don’t have engineers or experts in the office of the SGG that supervise construction. It is not within our purview. Please find out from the Ministry of Land and Housing, Shauibu advised.

When contacted, the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Land and Housing Alhaji Dauda  Gwayo said he cannot give an accurate update on the project but directed this reporter to the Managing Director, Yobe Housing AND Property  Corporation.

“I cannot give details on the update concerning the project at the moment. The MD of the Housing Corporation is in a better position to do so because they are the ones handling the project directly.

“The little I know is that, Family Homes, the handlers of the project were in Damaturu last three weeks and we and their consultants went round all the seventeen local governments area of the state where the sites for the projects are located. I think they are sorting out  most of the things including the compensation of land owners and other things. Just find out from the MD for details,” the Permanent secretary advised.

The Executive Director Yobe State Network of Civil Society Organization, Abubakar Baba Shehu also expressed his surprised that the project is yet to take off considering the length of time it the foundation laying ceremony was laid.

He however promised to make contact with the government and get to the root of what might be causing the delay of the project.

The empty site 

Meanwhile an official of the Housing Corporation who spoke with our reporters on the condition of anonymity because he is not authorized to speak officially to the press explained that the delay had to do with the enormity of the money involved in the project and other legal and procedural  issues attached to the project.

“You know that the project is a loan. Being a domestic loan, the House OF assembly have to approved it. This was not done initially so the governor has to go to the assembly to rectify that error,” the source informed.

He added further that,  “the delay in the commencement of the construction of the houses has nothing to do with its funding, but the Corporation and the Consultants of the project have to work out some rigorous paper work and streamline certain technical issues regarding the project to avoid any failures against time and cost over-run, being a mega project”.

According to the source;  “issues surrounding verification, compensation of persons, groups or communities whose lands are acquired for the project has to be sorted and prepare all amount due for the compensations of lands, economic trees and any other development deem found on the lands.

“In fact, in the actual sense, the project has commenced because, the secretariat has ever been active in paper work since the day of the foundation laying ceremony,” he said.

ImpactOnlineNigeria can also authoritatively report that one of such iconic, the Postiskum Trailer Park project which was equally flagged off on the 4/9/2019 to mark Gov. Buni's 100 days in office is also yet to take off.

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