Government’s social housing targets 1.8m jobs in first phase

The Federal Government says its National Social Housing programme under the Economic Sustainability Plan will create 1.8 million jobs within the construction value chain.

To benefit from the jobs will be artisans, engineers, quantity surveyors and others involved in the housing sector construction value chain.

Ajuri Ngelale, the senior special assistant to President Muhammadu Buhari on public affairs, who disclosed this to BusinessDay, said the government targeted those in the value chain of the Nigerian construction sector to drive the social housing scheme and create jobs in the housing ecosystem.

“This is something we’re very excited about, mainly because it would increase the number of jobs within the shortest possible time.”

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According to the presidential aide, “what we’re doing is that we’re constructing 300,000 housing across the country. Now, the 300,000 housing we’re constructing will create 1.8 million direct jobs and millions of indirect jobs.

To get the target of 1.8 million jobs, he explained that all of the companies and contractors involved in the execution of the projects would be sourced locally; employing indigenous Nigerian labourers, to use local raw materials such as sand, granite, cement, and other construction equipment.

Giving further insight, the presidential aide said: “For the 300,000 houses, there would be a need for 1.5 million doors, I.8 million windows and approximately 7.8 million door handles.

Every element of the construction work, he explained, would be taken by local suppliers in all states of the federation, noting that the 300, 000 housing scheme was equitably distributed across all states with a view to creating maximum economic impact.

The Nation Housing programme initiative is derived from the Economic Sustainability Plan of the Federal Government, as a means of cushioning the biting effects of the coronavirus.

The initiative is being funded by the Central Bank of Nigeria, (CBN) with 20 of the 36 states of the federation already indicating interest to participate in the scheme which has taken off.

Cement manufacturers had earlier promised to support the efforts of the government with a discounted price of cement to enable swift progress of the project.