The Nigeria Mortgage Refinancing Company (NMRC) and the Nasarawa State government have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) aimed at improving investment climate in housing, real estate and construction sectors.
The two parties signed the MoU at a ceremony at the Government House in Lafia, the state capital.
Secretary to the Nasarawa government, Ubandoma Aliyu, stood in for the state government at the signing of the document, while the managing director and chief executive officer of NMRC, Kehinde Ogundimu, signed on behalf of the company.
Briefing newsmen shortly after the exercise, Ogundimu said the MoU would guarantee confidence in investors to come into the state for housing, real estate and construction market.
The NMRC MD expressed optimism that with the proximity of the state to the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), similar to what Ogun is to Lagos, the state is in a position to attract more investors.
He revealed that the firm is currently partnering the governments of Kaduna, Ogun and Ekiti States, among others, with visible impacts.
He said the initiative would enable people of the state source finance using their lands, create job opportunities, as well as increase internally generated revenue for the state.
“The initiative is capable of increasing the GDP of Nasarawa State by 20-30 percent,” Ogundimu said.
Nasarawa State governor, Abdullahi Sule, said his administration has put lots of effort in this direction because of its focus to provide affordable housing for the people of the state, in line with the Nasarawa State Economic Development Strategy (NEDS).
Sule explained that already, his administration has submitted two bills, namely, the Mortgage Foreclosure Bill and the Investment and PPP Bill, before the State House of Assembly for passage soon.
According to the governor, the passage of the two bills will create the opportunity for the government to open up the state to the world.
He added that his government is desirous of exploiting the economic benefits of the state’s proximity to the FCT, which remains the biggest advantage for the state.
Sule said he would open up opportunities for the people of the state through the provision of necessary infrastructure, especially roads, water and electricity in Karu Local Government Area, in order to attract housing development.
While thanking the company for appreciating the efforts of his administration to reposition the state, Sule explained that the state government is making sure to provide the atmosphere for other investors to come, for the benefit of the people of the state.
