FMBN to Finance Housing Estates for Benue Workers

Managing Director of the Federal Mortgage Bank of Nigeria (FMBN), Mr. Gimba Ya’u Kumo, has disclosed that the bank will finance more housing projects for civil servants in Benue State.

A statement from the institution Monday  quoted Kumo as  dropping this hint at the inauguration of Divine Shelter Development Company’s estate of 100 housing units financed by the FMBN in Makurdi, Benue State capital.

He explained that as the “food basket of the nation” and with mass land for agriculture, housing and infrastructure development, Benue State deserved a lot in terms of housing development.

To achieve this, the FMBN boss solicited for support of the Governor of Benue State, Mr. Gabriel Suswam, in directing the immediate resumption of the National Housing Fund (NHF) contributions by government workers in the state.

Kumo also assured Benue state that the Federal Mortgage Bank will take necessary measures to ensure that houses funded through the NHF window are eventually sold to eligible NHF contributors.

In his response, the Benue State Governor promised the immediate resumption of NHF contributions by workers in the state.

He said that contrary to what was happening in the past where no single housing project was financed by the Bank for the benefit of workers, the presence of the commissioning of Divine Shelter Housing Estate that was fully financed by the mortgage institution would bring in more opportunities to the state.

Suswam advised the FMBN boss to discuss with the Head of Civil Service of the state and the state Labour officials to sort out all challenges that may impede the resumption of NHF deductions and remittances in the State.

The governor also promised to provide a soft loan for each NHF beneficiary in the state civil service to pay the 10 per cent personal stake required by estate developers as initial deposit for the houses.

Source : Thisday