Follow Us on Google
As Port Harcourt continues to expand, pressure on housing, roads, water supply and other urban infrastructure is driving private developers to explore new models of large-scale community development.
Against this backdrop, Wisdom Kwati Smart City Port Harcourt has opened sales for a 144-hectare mixed-use development in Iwofe, Obio/Akpor Local Government Area of Rivers State.
The project, located opposite Ignatius Ajuru University of Education, is being developed through a partnership involving Wisdom Kwati Smart City Plc, Japaul Group of Companies, North China Construction Group, Domineum Blockchain Solutions and the family of Thomas Ikhumetse.
Sales for the project opened on September 19 at an event held at the development site.
The developers said the project is designed to combine housing with infrastructure, commercial facilities and technology, rather than focusing solely on the sale of residential plots.
The development comes amid growing infrastructure pressure in Port Harcourt and surrounding areas as the metropolitan population expands.
An assessment by the African Development Bank, citing National Bureau of Statistics projections, puts Rivers State’s population at about 7.03 million, with Port Harcourt and Obio-Akpor identified as the two most populous local government areas in the state.
The AfDB assessment also highlighted gaps in basic infrastructure, noting that the Port Harcourt Water Corporation provided urban water supply and wastewater management services to only about 15 per cent of the population in Port Harcourt and Obio-Akpor.
Chairman of Wisdom Kwati Smart City Plc, Wisdom Kwati, said the infrastructure deficit was one of the factors behind the partnership driving the project.
“The reason for bringing these partners together is simple. A project of this scale requires more than land and buildings. It requires construction expertise, technology, infrastructure, capital and a clear understanding of the community that will eventually live and do business there,” he said.
Kwati said the project was designed with Port Harcourt’s long-term expansion in mind, adding that infrastructure such as roads, water, power and green areas would be considered as part of the community rather than added after residents move in.
According to him, the project will include residential and commercial areas, green spaces, renewable energy systems and smart-city infrastructure.
Other News
Other planned facilities include an artificial lake, water fountains, recreational facilities and a hypermarket.
He said the objective was to demonstrate how private developers could combine housing, infrastructure and technology in developing new communities.
“This is not simply about opening another estate and selling plots. We want to demonstrate that private developers can work together to deliver communities where infrastructure, technology and housing are planned together and where the value of the development grows with the city around it,” Kwati said.
For Japaul Group, the development provides an opportunity to deploy its experience in infrastructure and large-scale project execution to a new urban community.
Chairman of Japaul Group, Japaul Jegede, said the size of the development required a broader approach than conventional estate development.
He said the focus should extend beyond the number of plots available to how roads, drainage, water, electricity and other infrastructure would support the community as it grows.
“A development of 144 hectares has to be approached differently from a conventional estate. The question is not only how many plots can be sold. The question is what infrastructure will support those plots, how the roads and drainage will function, how power and water will be provided and how the community will remain viable as it expands,” Jegede said.
He said the partnership was intended to bring together different areas of expertise, including infrastructure, construction, technology, land and community development.
According to him, the development could also stimulate economic activity by creating opportunities for construction companies, professionals, retailers, service providers and other businesses.
“There is significant demand for housing and land in the city, but demand alone is not enough. People need confidence in the infrastructure, the planning and the delivery behind the property they are buying,” Jegede said.
The developers said the project would be implemented in phases, with infrastructure and other facilities introduced as the community develops.
The project is covered by a Certificate of Occupancy (C of O), while further details on available plots, pricing, infrastructure delivery and the development timeline are expected to be provided to prospective buyers.
