The Minister of Lands, Housing and Urban Deve-lopment, Ms Ama Pepple has revealed

Federal Government’s plan to create more jobs by building more houses across the country starting from this year.

According to her,6,550 jobs are expected to be created while the construction of seven blocks of 12 units each of 2-bedroom flats(84 units) at Kuje, Abuja, lasts while another 9,300 jobs will be created by constructing 10 blocks of 12 units each of two-bedroom flats (120 units) at Ikorodu-Igbogbo,Lagos State.

Addressing the press in Abuja,the minister who was optimistic of government’s readiness  to provide affordable mass housing said there were proposals for the development of houses in Nasarawa and Niger States within the vicinity of the Federal Capital Territory,Abuja and pilot schemes in the six geo-political zones.

So far,she said, 250 units out of the 500 housing units initially planned at Gwagwalada were at 80 per cent completion stage, adding that they would be ready for commissioning soon.

“The project which is being undertaken in collaboration with the office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation has so far created about 19,000 jobs,” she said.

Ms Pepple disclosed that the 500 units targeted could not be achieved because of difficulties in getting land from states and local government councils.

She therefore promised that “the ministry will step up its efforts in the new year to liase with state governors and the Minister for the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja to get more parcels of land for the consruction of additional prototype houses.”