By Usiere Akpan
UYO
The Akwa Ibom government has said it has secured financing plans to develop housing estates for civil servants in the state.
The government has also announced set targets for embarking on the construction of high and medium density housing estates within the state in the next one year.
Gov Udom Emmanuel made the announcements during the inauguration of a five-member board for the supervision of the Dakkada Luxury Estate at Government House, Uyo, Tuesday.
Emmanuel said that the mapped-out plans to develop civil servants housing estates was to accommodate the desires of individuals without adequate resource to afford multi-million low density luxury accommodation, noting that his administration was deliberately ready to meet the demands of providing space and accommodation in medium density and high density estates based on affordability of persons.
Emmanuel said that it has been observed that the Ewet Housing and Shelter Afrique Estates in Uyo were already overstretched to necessitate another topnotch to housing area, adding that the state government would not rest on its oars in expanding the housing facilities to accommodate the influx of residents, investors and visitors to the state.
The governor said that the expansion policy in the housing sector would also cover educational institutions to cater for all the schools overstretched especially in the Uyo metropolis, maintaining that the free and compulsory education policy has caused the influx of people into Akwa Ibom to overstretch public facilities with the need to expand educational shelter while “We’re considering setting up a very big secondary school somewhere around Ikono Uyo outskirts.”
He stated that the board of the Dakkada Luxury Estate was inaugurated to clarify its status as a limited liability company with no demands on government for running expenses, assuring that with steady power supply there would be a reliable reticulation system for potable water supply, liquefied gas duct and broadband internet service in the housing estate.
The governor remarked that the demand for space in the estate is already high to guarantee the status of being self-sustaining in generating enough revenue for expansion before the 600 units are exhausted, expatiating that shelter was a key in developing the economy and accommodating the influx of families with children of school age in the alarming growth of the state.
The chairman of the board, Mr Paul Usoro SAN, appreciated the ingenuity of the state government in providing a housing development compass beyond the period of the present administration, noting that the appointment was another opportunity to share in the vision of the Emmanuel administration for the people of Akwa Ibom.
Usoro assured the governor and the people of the state that the members of the board would work as a team to deliver on the assigned responsibilities, hoping that their support would bringabout the establishment of the second phase of the Dakkada Luxury Estate project.
Other persons who made up the inaugurated five-man Board of the Dakkada Luxury Estate Board are: Dr Emmanuel Ekuwem, Mr Churchill Udo, Brig. Gen. Koko Essien (rtd.) and the secretary, Mr Hillary Ekpo.
Discussion about this post