Housing Today: The Journal of the Association of Housing Corporations of Nigeria, Volume 8, No. 3, November 1992, Pp. 62-70 FOCUS ON NIGER STATE HOUSING CORPORATION (N.S.H.C.) Mohammed, A.; Bobi, M.T.; Minin, U.; Babalola, O.; Shaaba, A.P.; Namagana, N.M.; Olukade, I.J. and Bako, M.D. @Niger State Housing Corporation, P.M.B 105 Minna, Niger State, Nigeria Abstract: Established in 1979, Niger State Housing Corporation (NSHC)had the primary responsibility to address qualitative and quantitative housing inadequacy in Niger State, thereby enhancing the standard of living of her citizens, this article with the aim of elucidating the activities of the Corporation for performance rating , has the objectives to examine its consultancy and contracting services, and to assess its home ownership and other programmes. The methodology adopted for the study was the qualitative research design method which provides description of case studies with purposive sampling, hence the analyses also. The results of the study concluded that the NSHC’s performance from inception to date has been very satisfactory, and recommended that the Corporation enhances its programmes and continue to discharge its responsibilities to Nigerian citizens in the State with more enlightenment about its activities. Keywords: Consultancy, contracting, direct-labor, housing, tenure. ARTICLE OUTLINE Alhaji Isa Mohammed Kagara was 1.0 Introduction appointed secretary. They were replaced in 2.0 Relevant Review Works November, 1984, by Arc. Mustapha 3.0 Research Methodology Zubairu and Alhaji Mohammed Isa Ekkan 4.0 Data Presentation, Analyses and Discussion respectively, in September 1990 Mallam 5.0 Conclusion Mohammed Tukur Bobi was appointed the References new Secretary of the Corporation. In Appendix April, 1992 Alhaji Abdullahi Mohammed was appointed the Acting General 1.0 INTRODUCTION Manager of the Corporation. The Niger state Housing Corporation came into being on the 15th of May, 1979. It was The corporation had a seven man Board of set up primarily, to minimize the problem Directors with Engineer Mustapha Bello of accommodation in the state by as Chairman. Board Members were providing “Improved appointed in January, 1990 and the Board accommodation both in quantity and was dissolved in 1992. For maximum quality, thus enhancing the standard of efficiency and effectiveness, the living of the citizens of Niger state. The Corporation is made up of five first General Manager of Corporation was departmental structures, namely: the former Chief Planning Officer in the Administration; Works Department; State Ministry of Housing and Planning; Finance and Supply department; Environment Alhaji Bawa Bwari while 1 and Estate with the following divisions:- comprising 3 and 4-bedroom flats were Architecture, Quantity Surveying, ready for occupancy. Engineering, Land survey, Forestry, Niger House Estate: In 1981, the Internal Audit and Public Relations Unit Corporation embarked on the construction among others. Like most other entities, the of Niger House Estate consisting of 27 corporation is faced with serious financial units of 4-bedroom executive bungalows problems Grants from the government and eight 3-bedroom executive bungalows. have dwindled and there are no prospects The Estate was completed in 1983. that it would improve considering the Occupants of the executive house with economic state of the nation as a whole boy’s quarters pay N6,500.00 and Unfortunately, loans from banks and other N6,000.00 annually respectively. financial institutions are not forthcoming. Allocation of these houses was in Another major problem is the high cost of accordance with the requests of interested building materials. Second Tier Foreign ministries and organizations. Exchange Market (SFEM) has made Niger House Motels: One of the things worse such that the cost of building achievements of the corporation in its materials have increased by over two early days was the acquisition of four hundred percent and these prices are Motels known as the Niger House Motels subject to change without notice. at Kaduna, Suleja and Minna. A Transit 2.0 REVIEW OF RELEVANT WORKS Camp formally occupied by a construction Activities and Achievements firm (DUMEZ) based in Minna was also After its establishment, the Corporation acquired and converted into a Motel. embarked on a policy of building houses, Suleja and Bosso Housing Estates: The and the idea of Low- cost houses at Tudun Suleja Housing Estate comprises 50 low- Wada was conceived. cost houses of 4, 3 and 2-bedrooms while Tudun Wada Housing Estates: It the Bosso Housing Estate in Minna consist comprises of 260 units of three bedroom of 56 low-cost houses (on free lease from low income houses and sixty intermediate the State Government), This was in 3Bedroom- houses completed between recognition that the Corporation had come 1980 and 1981. The completed houses to stay and had performed creditably well have been allocated to Civil Servants, in its few years of existence. representatives of various companies in 3.0 METHODOLOGY the State, as well as private individuals. The qualitative research design method Zarumai Housing Estate: Towards the which provides description of case studies end of the year 1979, the Corporation with purposive sampling of interviewees purchased twenty seven houses from the as a result of the diverse programmes and New Nigerian Development Company activities of the Corporation was adopted (NNDC) Kaduna, at a cost of N715,000.00 for this research. The description of and by the end of 1980, the house, sampled cases were discussed and those interviewed were purposively selected as 2 best (based on their prior knowledge and the Corporation has acquired 700 hectares involvement in the diverse activities of the of land in Minna, Suleja, Kontagora, Bida Corporation) to provide the adequate and all the Local Government information on issues concerned in the Headquarters in the State. (b) Guaranteed study. security of tenure over all plots of land assigned to participants. (c) Building 4.0 DATA PRESENTATION, materials’ loan to participants wishing to ANALYSES AND DISCUSSION build their own houses. (d) The Consultancy Services Corporation can even build houses directly The corporation has continued to provide for the participants. consultancy services to Federal, State and Cooperative Housing Home Ownership Quasi-Governmental Establishment. Such Scheme services include: The State Governor’s This is designed; first and foremost, to Guest Houses and the Deputy Governor’s enable the low income families own residence: Design and supervision of the houses on serviced plots. Secondly, the presidential lodge, Minna; Design and scheme guarantees security of tenure over supervision of the office complex for Bida the plot. Thirdly the scheme is designed to Agricultural Development Project. The encourage families to save towards Commissioner’s quarters and residential owning their own houses. In respect of all Lodges: all of which were designed and these, the corporation offers: serviced supervised by the Corporation. The plots of land (15mx35), self-contained corporation has successfully created ways houses comprising of: (a) Sitting/dining 2 2 and means of generating revenue to enable room-26m (b) One bedroom of 14 m (c) it build more houses for our teeming Kitchen of 7.5m2 (d) Toilet and bathroom 2 population. This has been achieved by the 3.0m and (e) Space for extension i.e. sale of existing houses on Owner Occupier additional bedrooms. basis and introducing the Home Ownership scheme. The Owner-Occupier A team of building and construction Scheme has been found viable because workers has been established for direct people prefer to own houses rather than labor instead of awarding contracts. Major hire and pay. Achievements under the corporation’s Home Ownership Scheme Direct Labor programme include: It is designed to enable all eligible citizens “Progress court 84,” -a multistoried block of Niger state in particular and Nigeria in of 12 No three- bedroom flats and four general to own houses of their own in shops have been completed at Zarumai Niger State. Under this scheme, the Residential Area at a cost of N1.2m. Corporation offers: - Construction of the Niger State Secretariat (a) Serviced plots of land of various fence and gates at the cost of N160,000.00 densities, (at various States) to all Construction of Commercial Complexes in participants in the scheme. To this end, phases: Phases one and two have been 3 completed along Bosso Road in Minna, commissioned while the N4.5million and phase three, the proposed State Kagara market has been completed too. Intercity Bank, has been completed. Work will soon commence at commercial Brief on Some Projects complex four along the same Bosso Road. Proposed Gurara, Wushishi and Gbako L.G. Secretariats: Clients- Gurara, Conversion of new parliament building Wushishi and Gbako Local Government into High Courts Complex: has been Councils at Gawu, Wushishi and Bida, completed at a cost of nearly N2 Million. respectively. Contractor- Niger state The redevelopment of Gwari Market Housing Corporation P.M.B.105 Minna. (Kasuwan Gwari) at Minna: has been Contract Sums- N4,186,566.43; completed, at a cost of about N0.6Million N5,026,000.00 and N5, 516,013.59 and consists of 800 stalls while the respectively. Contract Period- 8months. Construction of residential quarters at Minna Army Barracks cost N8 Million. The Project: The entire project, which is of Also completed are the Doctors flats along only ground floor in each, has two large Hospital Road Minna. land- scaped courts yards with walkways Other Notable Achievements offices Work has been completed at Kpakungu forming enclosure. It is of size 64m x 84m Road on a UNICEF assisted health project, long with a central entrance/ reception consisting of Warehouses and two services hall. The walls are of block work roof of pits at a cost of N0.5 millions. galvanized corrugated sheet on wood Construction of a Gynecological ward at structures/reinforced concrete slabs.