From Olukayode Idowu, Maiduguri
Borno State Government said N4.1 billion would be generated from the sales of five housing estates within the state capital Maiduguri.
The five estates which have 2,777 houses are presently rented out, but would become the property of the occupiers on the payment of specified money, ranging from N750,000 to N3 million based on the size of the property.
The Governor, Prof. Babagana Zulum had in November last year approved the sale of public estates in the State on owner occupiers, and subsequently inaugurated a committee for the sales of the houses.
Speaking on Thursday in Maiduguri to joirnalists, the Chairman of the committee task with the task of selling out the houses, Alhaji Ibrahim Ngulde said “as a committee, we have mapped out strategies for the sales.”
Ngulde said of the minimum value of N4.1 billion approved by Governor Zulum, the committee has already a quarter of the money , noting that cash to be realised on outright sales at the occupiers is about N3 billion, while others will be realised from monthly deductions from both civil servants and retirees from the State Civil and Public Services.
He said already the committee in the last three months has realised above N1 billion from outright sales to non civil servants and the retirees.
Ngulde said: “We have about five housing estates in Maiduguri. We have 1000 estates, 777, 505, 303 and 202 all totalling 2,777 houses. We have now gone through and we have realised substantive amount. We have also sold a substantial number of houses.
“In the Governor’s magnanimity, he approved for those occupying the houses but are civil servants to pay through their salaries on instalments. We have compiled the list of civil servants who are to enjoy this facility to the appropriate organisations to ensure monthly deductions of the value of their houses and remit such to our account, and then give us the list, so that we issue out receipt to those whose salaries were deducted with such amounts to meet up with the value of their houses.
“The Governor also approved that those retirees who have not collected their gratuities, to pay the value of their houses through their gratuities and after the payment, government will give them the value of their gratuities,” the Chairman further said.
He said the only challenges the committee is confronted with is that of the houses and occupiers in the local government areas, stressing that it will liaise with the Ministry of Local Government and Emirate Affairs to sort things out.