lagospolicehousing
President Goodluck Jonathan on Friday commissioned a multi-million naira police housing estate in Idimu, Alimisho Local Government Area of Lagos State. The estate, named “Goodluck Ebele Jonathan Police Housing Estate,” comprises 200 units of 3-bedroom flats. The estate was built under a Public-Private Partnership, PPP, scheme being financed by Aso Housing and Loans and developed by Remax developers.
Speaking during the commissioning ceremony, the president said this was the first time in Nigeria’s history that the Nigerian Police would achieve such a laudable venture. He also emphasised that the federal government is committed to improving the standard of living of all police officers in the country, irrespective of their rank or status.
He said the PPP initiative was the only way the government could achieve many of its goals in providing the much needed infrastructural amenities.
The President commended the leadership of the Nigerian Police for “taking the initiative to develop an estate for its members. Not only is this commendable, it is remarkable because it goes a long way in complementing the efforts of the Federal Government in providing low cost housing for the citizenry.”
“This government places huge emphasis on housing, because the housing sector has the potential of increasing the productivity of every person. A viable housing sector creates jobs and enhances employment opportunities,” the president said.
He also noted that one of the ways in which government was aiming at improving the standard of living of police officers in the country was embarking on massive transformation of all barracks in the country.
“This will cost the government a lot of money to achieve, but at the end it will be worth it,” he said.
Mr. Jonathan thanked the police boss and his management team for naming the estate after him, but however noted that it would have been better for him to be receiving such honours after leaving office.
Earlier in his remarks, the Inspector General of Police, Mohammed Abubakar, disclosed that the housing units, which would be made available for different cadres of police officers was completed over a period of eight months.
Though he did not disclose the cost of building the estate, he declared that each flat would be given out to interested police officers at N8 million adding that each buyer would be expected to repay through a mortgage scheme made available by the Federal Mortgage Bank of Nigeria (FMBN).
He pointed out that similar estates were currently being built in other parts of the country including Abuja, Kaduna and Kano.
Admitting that lack of housing is one of the challenges faced by police officers and their families all over the country, Mr. Abubakar urged the FG to help construct more barracks across the country and help rehabilitate the existing ones.
“It is only with the aggression of the Federal Government that acute housing shortage of the police can be tackled,” he stated.
Also speaking, Minister of Police Affairs, Caleb Olubolade, commended the efforts of the President and IGP, adding that men and officers of the force will continue to be loyal to the administration of President Jonathan.