From Stanley Uzoaru, Owerri
The Federal Housing Authority (FHA) on Thursday commenced its verification exercise on Houses and lands in the Southeast zone.
Briefing newsmen in Owerri on the modalities is the Executive Director , Estate Services of FHA , Nya-Etok Ezekiel on behalf of the Managing Director /CEO, Oyetunde Ojo who said it is aimed at repositioning the authority as a prime Housing delivery of the Federal Government.
Already he said the exercise has started in the North Central and South West and now the turn of the Southeast.
He also maintained that it will remedy a lot of abnormalities inherent in the system of land allocation.
Making references to the past achievements of FHA, Ezekiel said “FHA in the past has made apprecable strides in establishing some of the most reknowned estates both in this country and beyond. One can not forget in a hurry what Festac was, years ago, it was a beauty to behold and attracted foreign visitors, Festac is one of the FHA Estates.
“Gwarinpa on the other hand, is widely reported to be one of the biggest Estates in the Western Sub-region of Africa. It is also FHA Estate. There are over 50 Estates of the Authority across the Country.
However ,he enumerated some of their presnt challenges as complete dilapidation of houses and insfrastructures in the Estates.
Also he added “the challenge of unwholesome practices leading to multi-allocations of one land to different people which has caused customers loss of thousands, if not millions in naira and also loss of quantifiable time arising from avoidable litigations.”
Following these challenges, he disclosed that FHA has also commenced digitalisation of its processes and records to enable house and land owners to have digital imprints that will enhance peace of mind and security over their properties.
“It is on account of the above, we embarked on what is externally seen as verification but in effect and practice, it is geared towards having digital imprints of our lands and houses.
“We therefore call on our allottees to come to the office and have their properties verified.
The committee operates in 2 sections; House verfication and land verification. What takes off today is the House Verification and in the coming weeks, the land verification will commence”. Ezekiel assured.
Meanwhile, the authority has also revealed its plans for a massive Housing revolution that will ensure good and affordable houses for Nigerians.
Twenty six State governor’s including Imo state he said have already keyed into the revolution exercise and lands procured in the States.
