The National Association of Nigerian Traders (NANTS), on Sunday in Abuja performed the ground breaking of 5,000 housing units in Kubwa, Bwari Area Council of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

National President of NANTS, Mr Ken Ukoha, who spoke at the ceremony, said the project was aimed at addressing the housing deficit in the FCT.

According to him, the housing project is aimed at making traders in the FCT house owners.

He said the project stemmed from the recognition accorded to traders as an important segment of the informal sector of the nation’s economy by President Goodluck Jonathan.

Ukoha, however, stressed the need for the allocation of the houses to be based on a first come, first served basis, with the selection process also very open and competitive.

Earlier, the FCT Chairman of NANTS, Mr Edozie Ugwu, assured the members that the project would be completed in six months.

He said the Kubwa and Mbora sites in the FCT would be constructed simultaneously, adding that the construction on Zuba site would commence later.

Ugwu said the Federal Housing Authority and the Federal Mortgage Bank (FMB) were also partners in the execution of the project.

He commended the FMB for assisting the association to get the land and funding the project.

The FCT chairman urged applicants to obtain the association’s identity card from their units, markets or plazas duly registered.

He stressed the need for applicants to purchase the official form from Zenith Bank at a non- refundable fee of N25,000.

Responding on behalf of other traders, Mrs Justina Obi, a trader at the Kubwa Model Market, thanked the association for the giant stride, saying that the project will make life meaningful to the ordinary Nigerian. (NAN)

•Photo shows Housing units

Update news