Cross River To Construct 1800 Housing Units Across The State

San Francisco, August 31, (THEWILL) - In its effort to actualize its vision of becoming a leading state in the country with the provision of affordable housing with a flexible credit out lay to its citizens, the Cross River State Government has concluded arrangement for the construction of 1, 800 housing units across the state.

Special Adviser to Governor Imoke on Mortgage Finance and Estate Development, Mrs. Rosemary Achonwa who disclosed this to journalists during an interaction in Calabar, recently, maintained that the state government is collaborating with Real Estate Developers Association of Nigeria (REDAN) and Federal Ministry of Housing and Urban Development to actualize the plan of constructing 100 housing units each across the 18 local government areas to begin in the last quarter of this year.

She pointed out that government is finalizing contract documentation with new developers on the Akapabuyo housing scheme as the initial arrangement fell through as it has paid N151.43 million as compensation to the community, N597, 760,639.30 for roads and drains construction; N81, 499,321.62 for electricity; and N25, 437,378.00 for water supply in line with required standard for the 610 housing units, adding that the state has magnanimously provided N200 million for its civil/public servants to fund 10 percent equity contribution which is a prerequisite for loan approval under the National Housing Fund Scheme to the beneficiaries.

The Special Adviser who encouraged civil servants/residents to take advantage of the housing development initiative by government to own a house by forming housing co-operative societies, stated that in addition to the state’s housing plan, the Federal Housing Authority has acquired a 53.7 hectares of land at Local Government Areas for the construction of 1,014 housing units of 2 and 3 bedroom detached and semi-detached bungalows. This, she said, is in addition to another 40 hectares which the state had also secured under Public Private Partnership arrangement starting this September.

On the Owner occupier policies, Mrs. Achonwa said that the state government in collaboration with City Code Savings & Loans has secured the approval of loans of N103, 433,795 million for 57 civil servants to enable them purchase property sold by government at Federal Housing and Parliamentary Village, Calabar.

She promised to sustain the campaign for enlightenment of civil servants and the general public on the importance and benefits of contributing to the National Housing Fund and various home ownership opportunities in the state to check housing deficit which she noted is between 12 to 16 million units in the country.

Mrs. Achonwa added that information brochures are already been circulated, while training at all Local Government Areas for a wider enlightenment campaign is to start at the last quarter.