FG lays foundation for 250 housing estate in Abia, to begin work at state’s federal secretariat

From Okey Sampson, Umuahia

The federal government has laid the foundation for 250 housing estates in Abia State under the renewed Hope Cities and estates programmes of President Ahmed Bola Tinubu.

This is even as the government at the centre has disclosed that the initial preparatory work for the construction of the Federal Secretariat at Ekeoba, Ohuhu in Umuahia North L.G.A, was ongoing and that construction work will begin soonest at the site.

Performing the groundbreaking ceremony for 250 housing units at Unuoche Bende, in Bende Local Government Area on behalf of President Tinubu, the Minister of Housing and Urban Development, Ahmed Musa Dangiwa applauded President Tinubu for providing the vision and the political will that made it possible for the programme to take off.

“In Phase One of this programme, we plan to deliver a total of 50,000 housing units across Nigeria. This includes 7 Renewed Hope Cities that will have between 500 and 1,000 housing units per site in each of the six geopolitical zones in the country and the FCT, while the estates will have 250 units per site in the remaining 30 states.“

“As you may recall, last month, following the presidential launch, we embarked on the first leg of the exercise with the groundbreaking of 1,500 housing units in the northern part of Nigeria.

“This includes 250-housing unit Renewed Hope Estates, one each in Katsina, Yobe, Gombe, and Sokoto, and a 500-housing unit Renewed Hope City in Kano. Work is currently ongoing at each of these sites, and we hope they will be completed within the next couple of months and made available to Nigerians in line with Mr President’s desire to provide quality housing for all”, the Minister informed.

Dangiwa thanked the Governor of Abia State, Dr Alex Otti, for the speedy acceptance of the request for the provision of land at no cost which he said has helped to reduce by 30 per cent the cost of the units in the estate.

He maintained that the housing unit project will unlock the massive potential of housing development to create job opportunities, uplift lives, and boost economic development.

“Statistics show that the construction of one housing unit creates an average of 25 direct and indirect jobs. So, for these 250 housing units, we hope to create jobs for over 6,500 people in various trades, from professionals like architects, civil engineers, and mechanical engineers to masons, plumbers, tilers, and electricians. This is in addition to the economic activities, including those selling food, supplying blocks, and providing building materials. The value chain effect of construction work on this site is significant and creates a positive economic impact.

He warned the developers, Messrs Camp David Global Synergy Ltd, and Messrs Finuch Investment Ltd, to ensure that they build according to specifications.

“We are diligently funding these projects from the N50 billion 2023 Supplementary Budget that Mr President approved for the Ministry to ensure sustainability, quality, and geographic spread. I want to assure states that have not been covered under the 2023 Supplementary Budget, will be included in the Ministry’s 2024 Budget on the condition that they provide land at no cost to enhance affordability.”

The Minister revealed that the Renewed Hope Estate in Abia comprises 50 units of 1-bedroom semi-detached bungalows, 150 units of 2-bedroom semi-detached bungalows, and 50 units of 3-bedroom semi-detached bungalows.

“We have designed these housing units in a way that makes them affordable by using organic designs to allow for future expansion as the income of beneficiaries increases. This means that a 1-bedroom unit is expandable to 2 bedrooms and a 2-bedroom unit can also be expanded to 3 bedrooms as the owner’s financial situation improves or their family grows.”

He emphasized the second phase of the housing programme adding, “This second leg will see us break ground for a total of 2,000 Renewed Hope Housing Units in eight (8) states in the South and North Central zones of our country. This includes 250 housing units in Ebonyi, Abia, Akwa Ibom, Delta, Osun, Oyo, Benue, and Nasarawa states.”

Meanwhile, Dangiwa used the occasion to disclose that the initial preparatory work for the construction of the Federal Secretariat at Ekeoba, Ohuhu, Umuahia was ongoing and that the actual construction work would begin soon.

He informed that the federal government awarded the contract for the secretariat in line with its plans to have a strong presence in each state of the country.

The State Governor, Dr. Alex Otti, represented by his deputy, Ikechukwu Emetu, while applauding the project said the state policy on housing was in agreement with that of the Federal Government for the country.

“We thank President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for this laudable project. This project will create jobs for Abians and keep our youths busy.”

Otti said his administration was trying its best to create the ease of doing business in Abia State.

“We will assure you as a government that everybody working in this very project, that the security that you need in making sure that this very project is delivered and our people take possession of these, will be guaranteed”, Otti assured.

The Minister of State for Housing and Urban Development, Alhaji Tijjani Gwarzo, represented by Nwofo Samuel, Director, Engineering Services, stated that the broad aim of the Federal Government through the Renewed Hope Estate was to turn the country into a huge construction site, unlock the power of the housing sector to create jobs, boost economic development, and help achieve President Tinubu’s goal to build a one trillion dollars economy.

The Commissioner for Lands and Housing in Abia, Mr Chaka Chukwumerije, had earlier pointed out that the government’s strides in the housing sector were in alignment with President Tinubu’s vision on the provision of affordable housing to Nigerians.

Speaking on behalf of the contractors, Ugochukwu Otti, disclosed that the Renewed Hope Estate in Abia comprises 50 units of 1-bedroom, semi-detached bungalows, 150 units of 2-bedroom semi-detached bungalows, and 50 units of 3-bedroom semi-detached bungalows.
He said that the project was designed in a way that makes them affordable by using organic designs to allow for future expansion as the income of beneficiaries increases.

He assured the estate would be well serviced with a network of roads, an articulated water system and electricity.

Eze Anthony Chukwu who spoke on behalf of the Bende community, expressed optimism that the project will stimulate the economy of the whole area and thanked the Federal Government for the programme.