Govt reaps N3.7b from sale of houses at Abuja Games Village
From Nkechi Onyedika, Abuja
ABOUT N3.7 billion has been realised from the sale of over 500 houses at the Games Village, Abuja, the Minister of Housing and Urban Development, Chief Mobolaji Osomo has said.
Disclosing this at the handing over of the houses to beneficiaries yesterday in Abuja, the minister explained said that the amount was received from about 252 persons who had finished paying for the houses, adding that some of the purchasers who had deposited only the first 30 per cent of the price money had two weeks to arrange with the ministry how they would pay the balance.
She said: "We have looked into the situation and we have given them two weeks to come and arrange with us how they want to pay. They could come for mortgage finance because really we are gradually getting to the area where the issues are surfacing.
"Some people have enough money to pay cash down, some do not have that much and we have taken their money, we don't want to send their money away so we have to look at how to organise mortgage finance for this people."
It will be recalled that about 546 houses at the Abuja Games Village were won through a raffle draw on May 29, 2003 for which the beneficiaries were required to pay between N12 million and N16 million.
The minister said the deed of assignment would be prepared and signed so that the recipients could have their certificates of occupancy (C's of O) from the Federal Capital Territory.
"We will also set up the facility manager, resident association group and also an agency of government, which will be monitoring this mini city," she added.
Osomo warned that government would not tolerate slums around the estate. "I just attended a conference in South Africa, which focused on cities without slums. If you look at the book, the cover was made from a typical slum in Laos and this was distributed to the whole world.
"We really need to change the way we live, we cannot exhibit ourselves as the worst in any form or shape in the world, so we really want to make this games village a master piece and a show piece for the world".
The minister announced that the sale of common facilities like shops, canteens and any other open areas that needed to be sold in the village would be advertised in two weeks time and would go to the highest bidders without subsidy.
She further noted that the land system in the country would be looked into to examine how they could be used for economic development of the nation.
Handing the keys to three beneficiaries for and on behalf of other purchasers, Osomo expressed hope that the environment would be peaceful and conducive for the residents.
The three beneficiaries who received the keys were Boma Braide, an architect, Mr. Ike Ofuokwu and Mr. Adamu Rabiu.
