Kwara State Governor, Abdulfatah Ahmed, has flagged off the construction of 1,000 housing units in order to provide affordable and quality housing to meet the shelter need of the populace.

Speaking after laying the foundation on Monday, Governor Ahmed explained that efforts to meet the housing need of the people have not yielded fruitful result.

He stressed that Nigeria housing deficits was about 17 million units with Kwara State having at least 500,000 housing deficits as well.

The Governor said that the state is experiencing a high population growth due to influx of people and businesses, stressing the need to provide affordable and quality housing.

The Kwara State Commissioner for Housing and Urban Development, Muideen Alalade, described the scheme as a practical demonstration of the government's readiness to meet the aspirations of the people.

He expressed the willingness of the state government to partner with the Federal government on its housing scheme across the country, especially in the three senatorial districts in the state.

The housing estate, which would comprise 82 units of two bedroom and 418 units of three bedroom in the first phase, is expected to be completed in 10 months.

The housing scheme, which 700 hectares of land at Budo Osho area of Ilorin South Local Government Area of Kwara State has been earmarked for, is also billed to serve as a model in terms of quality of construction, infrastructural facilities and affordability.

Out of this, only 50 hectares would for now, house the proposed Maigida Estate which is expected to be completed in 10 months.