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Ex-minister calls for sustained efforts on affordable housing

By on May 31, 2015

The immediate past Minister of Lands, Housing and Urban Development, Mrs. Akon Eyakenyi, has called on the new administration of President Muhammadu Buhari to pay more attention to the housing sector in order to ensure that the masses enjoy adequate and affordable shelter.

Eyakenyi noted that any government that failed to pay attention to the sector might not achieve much, adding that housing remained the engine room of any economy as it affects communities and the environment.

Eyakenyi spoke at a valedictory session with directors in the ministry, where she also commended them for their commitment and diligence to duty.

“If we did not move the way we did, we might not have achieved much and made the name we did within the period,” she was quoted as saying.

She noted that the ministry stood out positively among others in the past one year of her stewardship, adding that in spite of the lean budgetary provision, it was able to make a positive impact in the sector.

She also urged the management of the ministry to encourage developers to ensure that ongoing projects were completed, adding that this would benefit the masses as well as help to boost the image of the ministry.

Eyakenyi also urged the management of the Federal Housing Authority to live up to the expectation of people in the sector by building quality and affordable houses as well as be fair in the discharge of its duties.

The former minister stated that her exit from the ministry might not be the end of her service but could only be “a bend and not an end”.

The Permanent Secretary in the ministry, Mr. George Ossi, who was represented by the Director, Architectural Services, Mr. Sani Gidado, was quoted as saying that the management and staff would uphold the strides that the ministry recorded under Eyakenyi.

A representative of the Managing Director, FHA, Mrs. Nkechi Nwazota, was quoted as saying that the agency would continue to count on the ex-minister’s advice and wealth of experience at all times.

 

[Punch]