Housing Projects Create Over 1,900 Jobs in Gwagwalada, FG Says
Nigeria’s housing sector is emerging as a major source of employment, with more than 1,900 workers engaged during the excavation phase of a housing project in Gwagwalada, Abuja.
The Minister of Housing and Urban Development, Muttaqha Darma, disclosed this during an inspection of the National Housing Programme (NHP) estate and the Renewed Hope Civil Service Estate in Dukpa, Gwagwalada, Federal Capital Territory.
Darma said the construction industry was making a significant contribution to Nigeria’s economic growth while providing employment opportunities for citizens.
According to the minister, more than 1,900 people were employed during the initial excavation phase of the project, which involves the construction of 110 blocks of two-bedroom flats.
He described the housing industry as an important sector for employment generation and said this was one of the reasons the Federal Government was promoting increased housing construction across the country.
“The housing industry is really a very, very important industry to employ Nigerians. And that’s why we are promoting the industry,” Darma said.
The minister explained that the number of people employed on the project was expected to increase as construction moved into additional stages.
He said further work would require more personnel for building activities, machinery operations, general labour and concrete mixing, among other construction activities.
“Now you can begin to talk about the building work, the machinery work, the labourers, the mixing and others in the construction process,” he said.
FG targets more housing delivery
Darma also reaffirmed the Federal Government’s commitment to delivering more housing units across Nigeria before the end of the year.
He said the ministry remained confident that it would exceed President Bola Tinubu’s target of delivering 100,000 housing units to Nigerians before the end of his first tenure.
“We will surpass what Mr President promised, that 100,000 units of housing will be delivered to Nigerians before the end of his first tenure,” the minister said.
“We are moved to do it and we are going to do it,” he added.
The minister said the housing programme was part of wider government efforts to increase access to affordable housing while also using construction activity to stimulate employment and economic activity.
250-unit civil service estate targeted for completion
Darma further disclosed that the 250-unit Renewed Hope Civil Service Estate in Dukpa, Gwagwalada, was expected to be completed within six months.
He said the ministry would closely monitor contractors working on the project to ensure that they comply with agreed timelines and deliver the development within the specified period.
“Yes, it’s still possible. That’s why I asked the engineer on site to give me the work plan for each contractor,” he said.
According to the minister, each contractor was expected to submit an individual work plan early the following week.
The work plans would enable the ministry to monitor the progress of the different components of the project and measure performance against agreed milestones.
Darma said the ministry would continue to monitor the development closely and take the necessary steps to ensure that the six-month completion target was achieved.
The housing minister’s inspection comes as the Federal Government continues to use housing construction as part of its broader efforts to expand housing supply, support economic activity and create employment opportunities through the construction value chain.
