No Provision For Mass Housing In 2014 Budget – FG

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… Dangote’s N1 billion offer is no longer a donation but loan, says ministry official.

By Olusegun Emmanuel, Abuja.

Despite increasing housing  problem, the Federal Government said on Tuesday that there was no provision for mass housing in the 2014 budget, even as it revealed Mr. Aliko Dangote’s N1 billion pledge of assistance for mass housing was not a donation after all, but a loan facility to the ministry.

The disclosure was made in Abuja when the Senate Committee on Land and Housing received in audience the Ministry of Land and Housing at the 2014 budget defence session in the National Assembly.

Vice Chairman of Committee, Senator Gbenga Ashafa had demanded to know from the newly appointed Minister Mrs Akon Eyakonyi, what the provision for mass housing was in 2014 budget.

The minister explained that there was no provision for mass housing in the 2014 budget, assuring however, that there would be provision for mass housing in next year budget.

Ashafa had posed further questions to the ministry officials on the one billion donation earlier announced by Alhaji Aliko Dangote for mass housing in Nigeria.

But the officials told the senate committee that the N1 billion was not really a donation but loan which the ministry was vigorously struggling to meet up with its requirements.

The ministry said they were not aware of the implication of money pledged by Dangote until the ministry made moves, to assess it, adding that the ministry was desirous to get the loan in order to meet up with housing problem in the country.

Meanwhile, Senator Kabiru Gaya, another member of the committee has demanded for details of communication between the ministry and Mr. Dangote in order to enable proper intervention by the committee.