By; FUNMI ADERINTO, Kaduna
Kaduna State Governor, Senator Uba Sani yesterday, said that Qatar Sanabil Project (a mass housing project for low income earners) is a multi million dollar project that will impact positively on the lives of over 500,000 poor underserved and vulnerable citizens of Kaduna State.
Governor Uba Sani expressed this at the site of the project groundbreaking of the Qatar Sanabil Project (a mass housing project for low income earners) held at Millennium City, in Kaduna.
Senator Uba Sani, joined by the Qatar Ambassador to Nigeria, H.E Dr. Ali Bin Ghanem Al-Hajri, said, “It is a great pleasure for me to be here to witness and perform the groundbreaking of the Qatar Sanabil Project in Kaduna”.
He said, “this ceremony marks a significant milestone in our collective determination to realize this project that will provide mass housing for the less privileged, as well as the construction of an Economic City in Kaduna.
According to him, “Our sincere appreciation to the Embassy of State of Qatar and Qatar Charity for matching their words with actions. The story of Qatar Charity is deeply inspiring. It is a story of kindness, empathy and compassion.”
He pointed out that, “A group of Qatari philanthropists, alarmed by the rising number of children orphaned by wars and conflicts in neighbouring countries, came together to form a community initiative called ‘The Committee of Qatar for Orphan Sponsorship.’
“Eight years later, an International NGO was set up under the name ‘Qatar Charity’ to scale up the initiative, broaden its range of activities and augment its outreach. Almost four decades later, Qatar Charity has grown to become one of the largest humanitarian and development organizations in the world.
“This groundbreaking ceremony is a clear indication that our administration’s drive for investments in order to revitalize the economy of the state is beginning to yield results. Our vision is to make Kaduna the leading economic hub in the North.
“We want to create a business cluster that will drive competition in the Northern Region. Kaduna State is rich in natural and human resources.
“It is the gateway to many parts of Nigeria. It is a transportation hub. The immediate past government worked assiduously to upgrade the infrastructure in the state. We are determined to build on that legacy to fast track the economic development of the state.
“The Economic City will provide world class infrastructure and make Kaduna a reference point in modern and affordable accommodation, adequate security and conducive atmosphere for business activities.
“The Economic City will facilitate international trade. It will serve as a platform for entrepreneurs and traders. It will help harness product value chain opportunities and improve economic growth.
“In the Economic City, there will be houses for the poor, clinics, shops, poultry farms, farmlands for rainy season and irrigation farming.”
Governor Uba Sani further said, “The Mass Housing Project for the less privileged is a major contribution towards putting roofs over the heads of the poor, underserved and vulnerable in our state. This will go a long way in addressing a major gap in our Interventions in the Housing Sector over the years.
“Other empowerment programmes that the poor, underserved and vulnerable in Kaduna State will benefit from Qatar Charity include: scholarships for orphans and children of the poor, distribution of sewing machines, welding machines , irrigation pumping machines, salon kits, and drilling of hundreds of boreholes across the 23 local government areas of Kaduna State.
“The Qatar Sanabil Project is a multi-million dollar project that will impact positively on the lives of over 500,000 poor, underserved and vulnerable citizens of Kaduna State.
“The Kaduna State Government will give Qatar Charity all the support it needs to accomplish these two important projects.
“I call on other investors to avail themselves of the opportunities existing in our dear State. The incentives are very attractive. Our people are welcoming. Our Ease of Doing Business is second to none in Nigeria. Our doors are wide for genuine investors.
“It is now my honour and privilege to perform the groundbreaking of the Economic City and mass housing project for the less privileged.
“I thank you all for your participation in this groundbreaking ceremony.”
