Half of Katsina’s Renewed Hope housing units still unfinished — Minister

The Minister of Housing and Urban Development, Muttaqha Darma, has uncovered major inconsistencies in official reports on the Federal Government’s Renewed Hope housing project in Katsina State, revealing that only about 130 of the 250 units claimed to be completed are actually finished.

The discovery followed an unannounced inspection of the project site, where the minister carried out a physical verification that contradicted briefing documents submitted to the ministry.

While reports indicated that all 250 housing units had been completed, the inspection showed that nearly half—about 120 units—remain unfinished, despite contracts being awarded roughly 18 months ago.

The housing scheme, awarded in December 2024 with a six-month timeline, was expected to be completed by June 2025. However, more than a year after the deadline, several contractors are yet to deliver key components of the project, including housing blocks and basic road infrastructure.

Expressing dissatisfaction during the visit, Darma criticised contractors for failing to meet agreed timelines without formally seeking extensions as required under contract terms.

“It is unacceptable for contractors to delay projects beyond agreed timelines without proper approval. None of them requested extensions, which amounts to a breach of contract,” he said.

The minister also dismissed claims of funding constraints, noting that contractors failed to follow due process in addressing project delays.

In addition to delays, the ministry identified early signs of structural defects in some completed buildings, raising concerns about construction quality.

Darma warned that substandard work would not be accepted, stressing that contractors would be required to rectify all defects before any handover.

“If we find these houses in poor condition, we will not accept them. All defects must be fixed before completion,” he stated.

He directed ministry officials to convene an urgent meeting with all contractors involved and ordered a comprehensive audit of the project. The audit is expected to detail contractor identities, mobilisation timelines, contract terms, funds disbursed, and actual progress levels.

The Katsina housing project is part of the Federal Government’s broader plan to deliver over 15,000 housing units nationwide through budgetary funding, public-private partnerships, the Federal Mortgage Bank of Nigeria, and the Federal Housing Authority.

The latest findings highlight ongoing implementation challenges facing the programme, even as the administration enters its final phase.

Reaffirming his commitment to completing the project, the minister said a technical team would be deployed for a full assessment, adding that the goal is to deliver most of the units before the end of the administration.

“Housing is for people, not animals. We must ensure these projects are completed and habitable,” he said.