The Nigeria Police Force, in partnership with two indigenous property development companies, has commenced the construction of 40,000 housing units for officers and other interested persons across the country.
Parties involved in the project stated that the first phase of the mass housing scheme, consisting of 200 units of houses, was set to commence in Enugu State.
The Deputy Commissioner of Police and the Managing Director, NPF Property Development and Construction Company, Mr. Obe Rudolf, alongside officials of Ojim Royal Investment and Property Limited, as well as Puha Property Development Company, confirmed the project development at the headquarters of the NPF at an agreement signing ceremony in Abuja.
Rudolf said, “The present regime’s social housing scheme is such that we don’t want to create another set of barracks. Every set of approval that the present police management gives to the property company, we have the directive that certain percentage of these buildings should be reserved for the public.
“When I say the public, I mean the general masses can partake. The only difference is that the price we sell to police officers is slightly less than what we sell to other organisations. And the reason is obvious; we want policemen to afford this at a pocket-friendly rate based on their savings through the National Housing Fund.”
He explained that the 40,000 houses were going to be constructed in phases, adding that the target was to complete the project in three or four years.
Rudolf said, “We are starting the first phase in Enugu. As they build them and officers indicate interest as off-takers, we proceed to the next location where there is land and then build again. This will continue until we get to the threshold of 40,000. So, for the next three to four years, this project will be running.”
Rudolf said the two companies that were partnering the police on the project had the technical and financial ability to execute the job, adding that the NPF had interviewed the developers and was convinced of their individual capacities to deliver the project.
The Managing Director, Ojim Royal, Mr. Kingsley Okoronkwo, said the buildings were going to be affordable since they were being constructed primarily for the police in 20 states, including the Federal Capital Territory.
He said, “It is a mass housing project and we are capturing 20 states, including the FCT. But right now, we are starting with Enugu State where the land is already available. We are constructing 40,000 units across the country and they are going to consist of two and three bedroom flats.
“The houses are going to be very affordable, especially because it has to do with the police. We put all the necessary things into consideration because we are aware of the current economic recession in our country today.”