Overview
The potentials for housing development in the State are very high. The State has an estimated population of 9 million, 50% of which is young and growing at 4% p.a. In addition, there is a huge influx of people from within and outside the country due to Yobe’s strategic
status as the commercial and investment nerve center of Northern Nigeria. The urban population has been growing rapidly since the creation of the State in 1976.
Housing delivery in the State has hitherto been largely public-sector driven although the private sector has shown a willingness to participate in housing schemes if offered the right incentive. The State Government, through the Ministry of Housing and Energy,
has at various times evolved and carried out many housing programmes and constructed housing units to cater for different categories of people ranging from state employees to private individuals. This has impacted both socially and economically the lives of the people.
HOUSING SECTOR
However, even with these, there is still a massive housing deficit of about 3 million units for both residential and commercial purposes in Yobe due to increases in income levels, especially among the middle class, a growing urban population, and the rapid
transformation of rural towns into urban and semi-urban towns. This deficit will require the utilization of many different approaches and many different players in the housing market. The State Housing Master Plan envisages a private-sector housing delivery mechanism where private developers will be given incentives by the government to undertake residential and commercial
development projects.
This, therefore, provides great opportunities for private Real Estate development. The State encourages public-private partnership (PPP) in ventures by signing a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) in which the State government provides land, and infrastructure
as well as guarantees for repayment in the case where the off-takers are civil servants.
The Real Estate developer is responsible for the following:
Conceptual layout plans and preliminary designs
- Site appraisal and landscape plan
- Detailed site plans
- Planning Report and Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA)
- Construction of the houses and all associated costs
- Marketing and sales of houses
- Post-construction estate management
Incentives and Government Support:
The government will provide all the support necessary for the private sector to exploit the housing potentials of the
State.
In particular: Additional Housing Layouts in strategic locations in the State will be opened on demand by the private sector. Substantial plots of land have been reserved for Mass Housing and commercial development by the private sector through Public Private Partnerships.
Government is committed to the provision of basic infrastructure such as roads and drainages, water, electricity, etc. at all sites designated for housing development.
Mortgage Financing is being put in place to assist the over 50,000 civil servants and other citizens to buy the houses when completed.
Up to 100% foreign and or private ownership of housing is allowed in Yobe State. Government will ensure that private developers are given a long lease on the land.
The issuance of construction permits and land titles will be fast-tracked to enable investors to obtain funding more quickly from financial institutions. There is easy access to information from the Bureau of Land and Survey to help fast-track all relevant statutory applications for housing development in the State.