PHOTO: AFP / STRINGER
The Federal Mortgage Bank of Nigeria (FMBN) has pledged support to the Borno State government in reconstructing and rehabilitating houses ravaged by the Boko Haram attacks.
This is even as the State government has expressed its commitment to return to the National Housing Fund Scheme as part of its efforts towards solving the state’s housing problems.
The decisions were reached when the Management of FMBN led by the Managing Director, Ahmed Musa Dangiwa, paid a courtesy visit to the State Governor, Kashim Shettima to make presentation of cheques to beneficiaries of the FMBN Home Renovation Loan at Government House in Maiduguri.
Dangiwa called on the people of the state to take advantage of the privilege most especially the Home Renovation Loan for the reconstruction of their houses destroyed by the menace of Boko Haram.
In a statement from the Bank, Dangiwa noted that Borno is one of the States that urgently need the Home Renovation Loan to enable the people affected by the insurgency return to their houses.
He assured the Government of the Bank’s continued support in tackling its housing problems and also expressed satisfaction with the achievements recorded by the state despite the daunting challenge of insecurity.
Responding, Governor Shettima expressed appreciation for the Bank’s readiness to support the state towards the rehabilitation of houses destroyed by insurgents. He called on the Bank to come to its aid by building houses in Biu, Bama and Monguno to reduce the housing deficit in the areas just as he commended the management for its untiring efforts at solving the housing problems and showing interest to assist the state.
The governor also commended the leadership of the organized labour for their support and maturity towards the return of the State to the National Housing Fund Scheme. He disclosed that the State Government along with the organized labor will soon meet to work out the modalities on how NHF contributors in the State can benefit from services offered by the FMBN.
In a remark, Chairman of Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) , Comrade Ali Abana expressed satisfaction with the performance of the Bank in other states and resolved to rejoin the NHF Scheme.
The Labor leadership then called on the Bank to make its services available to its members in order to cushion the effects of insurgency in the State and suggested for an upward review of the Home Renovation Loan from N1million to N2 million so that the loan could make the desired impact on the people.
