Minister threatens to breach housing contracts

The Minister of State for Power, Works and Housing, Mustapha Shehuri, has threatened to revoke three contracts under the National Housing Programme in Damaturu, the state capital, over poor performance.

Mr Shehuri gave the threat on Monday in Damaturu during an inspection of the housing project.

He said the essence of the National Housing Programme being implemented in all the states across the country and the FCT was to deliver one of President Muhammadu Buhari’s campaign promises.

The minister said the idea was to provide housing to Nigerians at affordable prices and also to create employment for the teeming youths in the country.

He urged the state controller of housing to ensure that non-performing contractors were reported and given adequate warning.

‘‘If any contractor is given a contract to build, it is a privilege and not a right and if such contractor fails to live up to the terms of the contract, please let us know.

‘‘Why will some contractors be at roof level, some have already completed while some others are still at foundation level even, after being warned once, twice and thrice?

‘‘If they are not ready to work, there are a lot of Nigerians that are looking for such opportunity.

‘‘The next time I come here, I want to see these houses at the same level with others, if it is not at the same pace, I will intervene and revoke the contract,” he said.

Earlier, Buhari Hyallaidati, the Supervision Team Leader, National Housing Programme in Damaturu, said nine out of the 20 contractors handling the projects had completed and handed over.

He said the nine contractors had completed and delivered 16 units of three-bedroom and 20 units of two bedroom semi-detached bungalows out of the 80 units of houses in the project.

Mr Hyallaidati said the remaining housing units in the project were at various stages of completion.

According to him, contractors that are still at foundation level have no excuse because payments have been made up to date.

The team leaders said the contractors handling infrastructure facilities, road network, electricity and water supply at the site had taken possessions of the projects.

He said the contractor in charge of electricity had achieved 56 per cent completion, adding that the water supply contractor had commenced geophysical survey.

He, however, said that the contractor in charge of road network had abandoned the site.