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From Okey Sampson, Umuahia
Abia State Governor Dr Alex Otti has tasked the UN Habitat to fast-track the delivery of the Aba master plan as well as to extend their work to Umuahia in order to transform the capital city.
This is even as the Governor has said his administration was aligned with President Bola Tinubu’s vision on the provision of affordable housing to Nigerians.
The Governor who gave the charge when he received in audience the UN Habitat, West Africa portfolio manager, Matthias Spaliviero who paid him a visit, said his government was committed to transforming Umuahia, the state capital to give it a befitting status.
Ott disclosed that his government has awarded the contract for the establishment of a bus terminal in Umuahia to enhance the beauty of the city and ensure sanity, adding that a similar project would be embarked on in Aba.
“We are advancing in our quest to develop Aba and address the environmental challenges in the city. While you are working in Aba, extend your work to Umuahia to add value to what we are doing because it is the capital city. We want to transform that city.”
Dr Spaliviero had earlier told the Governor he was in the state for a support mission, informing that the UN Habitat intends to show full commitment to the state through technical assistance.
Dr Spaliviero said there was a need for sustainable urban renewal through engagement with the people especially in Aba.
He regretted that the Aba people had a poor sanitary culture and were not taking care of infrastructure provided by the government.
Meanwhile, Governor Otti has made it clear that his administration was aligned with President Tinubu’s vision for the provision of affordable housing to Nigerians.
Otti who made this known when he received in the audience, a delegation of the Federal Housing Authority led by the MD/CEO, Hon Oyetunde Ojo said the state will show sufficient interest in the proposed federal housing project in Abia.
Otti, noting that the importance of shelter which is part of the three most important needs of man cannot be over-emphasized, disclosed that his administration has already identified a location for the proposed diaspora village to be built by his government.
He thanked the President for the decision to ensure that Nigerians have roofs over their head and particularly for assuring that contractors for the building of the federal housing project would be locally sourced.
He equally expressed joy that the Federal Housing Authority is consulting with states to know what exactly the states want in terms of housing, adding that it is the best approach for achieving an acceptable housing project.
Earlier, Ojo who stated that housing was keen to President Tinubu’s administration, disclosed that their visit was to inform the Governor of the proposal of the federal government to acquire land in the state and build affordable houses for Abians.
He said the President identified that there is a deficiency in shelter in Nigeria and is willing to provide affordable housing for Nigerians.
He said his plan was to meet with state Governors and redesign together, the kind of housing to be built in each state, stating that the input of the Governors was important to the project.
