Business

NHFP Moves To End Nigeria’s Housing Deficit

Published

8 years ago

August 21, 2017

The Nigeria Housing Finance Programme (NHFP) last Saturday said the aim of its “My Own Home’’ housing scheme was to solve the nation’s 17 million housing deficit.
The Mortgage Finance Consultant of NHFP, Mrs Adenike Fasanya-Osilaja, made the assertion at a seminar by the organisation in Lagos.
Fasanya-Osilaja said that the scheme was programmed to specifically provide long-term funds for Primary Mortgage Institution (PMIs), developers and private individuals to build or buy houses.
She said that the housing scheme was designed in a way that the payment will be spread within a period of 20 to 25 years to allow the beneficiary conveniently repay and at zero per cent interest rate.
According to her, individuals need not have millions of Naira to own their own houses, adding that anyone who earns an income has the financial capacity to buy and own a house.
She said that the housing scheme was open and available to every Nigerian from 21 years and above who has a source of income.
Fasany-Osilaja also said that members of the formal and informal private sector could access the fund irrespective of their income level.
“This is the first time that the informal sector is being given an opportunity to access to a long-term mortgage loan that will enable them to buy or build houses of their own.
“We are creating long-term loans for operators in the informal sector like traders, commercial drivers and other self-employed private individuals to buy/build houses of their own.
“All that is required of them is to have an account with any mortgage or microfinance bank which will assess their income level and capability to repay the loan,’’ she said.
On his part, President of the Mortgage Banking Association of Nigeria (MBAN), Mr Adeniji Akanlusi, said that the scheme was a market-driven programme which was not accountable to any political entity.
Akanlusi said that the scheme was only getting support from the government and Central Bank of Nigeria.
According to him, the three mediums through which Nigerians can access the fund are the Nigeria Mortgage Refinancing Company (NMRC), Mortgage Guarantee Scheme and the Housing Microfinance.
“We do not choose or build houses for people; our job is to provide the fund for prospective homeowners and developers to build/buy houses of their choice.
“Since the scheme is industry/market-driven, it can be sustained forever and cannot end at the expiration of any political tenure.
“Once a greater percentage of the population have access to decent homes, the rate of crime and unemployment will reduce resulting in an increase in the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of the economy,’’ Akanlusi said.

Business

NPA Assures On Staff Welfare

Published

3 days ago

June 27, 2025

The Tide

The Managing Director, Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), Dr. Abubakar Dantsoho, has said the management will continue to accompany its port infrastructure and equipment modernization drive with the development of the welfare of its personnel.

Dantsoho made the disclosure recently while responding to the commendation by the Maritime Workers Union (MWUN) and the senior Staff Association of Statutory Corporations and Government-Owned Companies (SSASGOC) on the clearing of the age-long problem of employee stagnation, when the union paid him a courtesy visit at the Authority’s headquarters in Lagos.

A Statement by NPA’s General Manager Corporate & Strategic Communications, Mr. Ikechukwu Onyemekara, quoted Dantsoho as saying, “our Port infrastructure and equipment modernization drive will go hand-in-hand with continuous staff welfare improvement”.

The NPA MD disclosed that human capital development constitutes the key strategy for creating and sustaining superior performance under his watch, adding that “talent development constitutes a critical success factor for the actualization of the big hairy audacious goals we have set for ourselves especially in the area of Port competitiveness.

“The only way we can meet and indeed exceed stakeholders’ expectations is to deepen the competencies of our human resources assets and boosting their morale.”

Speaking further, Dantsoho commended the Honourable Minister of Marine & Blue Economy, Adegboyega Oyetola, for approving the strategic proposal of the Dantsoho-led Management team that solved the over a decade-long problem of lack of promotion that had fuelled industrial disharmony.

“I must specially appreciate our amiable Minister for graciously approving the multi-pronged stratagem we deployed that cleared all outstanding cases of employee stagnation by conducting examinations in one fell swoop and instituted timelines to forestall a recurrence of such anomaly”, he sad.

Speaking on behalf of the joint maritime labour unions, the President of Senior Staff Association of Statutory Corporations & Government-Owned Companies (SSASCGOC), Comrade Bodunde stated, “In addition to clearance of the backlog of stagnated promotions, we also wish to express our appreciation for the increase in productivity bonuses, provision of end-of-year welfare packages for staff, and the revision of the Financial Guide to the Condition of Service, which now addresses our members’ concerns about inflationary pressures.”

Nkpemenyie Mcdominic, Lagos

Business

ANLCA Chieftain Emerges FELCBA’s VP

Published

3 days ago

June 27, 2025

The Tide

National Secretary of the Association of Nigerian Licensed Customs Agents (ANLCA), Elder Olumide Fakanlu, has been elected Vice President of the Federation of ECOWAS Licensed Customs Brokers Association (FELCBA).

The election took place during the FELCBA Congress, held from Tuesday, June 17th to Thursday, June 19th, 2025, in Freetown, Sierra Leone.

Fakanlu’s emergence as Vice President marks a significant achievement for Nigeria within the regional customs brokerage community.

Apart from Fakanlu, Secretary of the Seme Chapter of ANLCA, Austin Nwosu, was also elected, securing the role of Secretary of Relations with Institutions.

The Nigerian delegation played an active role in the congress, with Michael Ebeatu nominated as a member of the electoral officer team, ensuring a fair and transparent election process.

The three-day congress concluded with delegates undertaking a visit to the Sierra Leone Port, offering insights into the host nation’s maritime operations, followed by a recreational trip to the Tokeh Beach.

The newly elected executives are expected to lead FELCBA in its efforts to harmonize customs brokerage practices, promote trade facilitation, and advocate for the interests of licensed customs brokers across the ECOWAS sub-region.

Nkpemenyie Mcdominic, Lagos

Business

NSC, Police Boost Partnership On Port Enforcement

Published

3 days ago

June 27, 2025

The Tide

In a bid to enhance more enforcement in the nation’s Port, the Nigerian Shippers’ Council (NSC) has reaffirmed its commitment to stronger inter-agency collaboration with the Nigeria Police Force (NPF).

The Council said the collaboration is aimed at enhancing stronger enforcement, compliance and improve operational efficiency across Nigeria’s ports.

Executive Secretary/Chief Executive Officer of NSC, Dr. Pius Akutah, made this known during a visit to the Inspector-General of Police, Dr. Kayode Adeolu Egbetokun, at the Force Headquarters, Abuja.

The visit, which he said, focused on strengthening institutional synergy, comes in the wake of growing responsibilities for the NSC under the newly created Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy.

Akutah emphasized the critical role of security agencies in supporting port operations and ensuring regulatory compliance.

He called for the posting of police officers to assist the Council’s monitoring and enforcement teams at key port locations including Lagos, Warri, Onne, Port Harcourt, and Calabar.

“The posting will complement the activities of our revived task teams and enhance our ability to enforce standards across the maritime logistics chain”, he said.

Earlier, the Inspector-General of Police, Dr. Egbetokun, assured the Council of the Force’s readiness to continue supporting the growth of the maritime sector.

The IGP acknowledged that compliance enforcement is essential to the successful implementation of Nigeria’s Blue Economy objectives.

“The NSC and NPF are expected to deepen collaboration in the months ahead, with a shared focus on building a secure, efficient, and competitive port environment”, to the IGP emphasized.

Chinedu Wosu