The Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai has pledged to build more houses for low-income earners, adding that the All Progressives Congress (APC) led government is fully committed to addressing the state’s housing deficits.

El-Rufai gave the assurance while performing the foundation laying ceremony of 600 mass houses for low-income earners and shopping mall at the Millennium City Estate in Chikun local government area of the state.

During the ceremony, which had in attendance members of the state executive council and private developers, on Tuesday, the governor said his administration is committed to providing an enabling environment for more investors to come into the state as well as provide jobs for the citizens of the state.

There is a huge housing deficit in Nigeria estimated at 17 million.

The inauguration of the 600 housing units which is being developed under a public-private partnership arrangement between the Kaduna State Investment Promotion Agency (KADIPA) and three private investors, developers, is part of efforts by the state government to breach the gap.

The proposed houses comprise of semi-detached three bedrooms, two bedroom apartments and duplex are expected to be completed within one year.

The APC party during the 2015 general election said in its manifesto that in order to meet the housing shortage, the party will implement a social housing policy of one million low-cost housing units in the first four years.

It is, therefore, expected that the housing scheme would be implemented across the state with ordinary citizens being the major beneficiaries.