Date Published: 10/05/09

AK Govt. set to provide 1,500 housing units

Godswill Akpabio

Akwa Ibom Government has restated its readiness to partner with the private sector in the provision of 1,500 housing units in the three senatorial districts in the State.

Governor Godswill O. Akpabio stated this Friday when the management of NOZARIA Spain in conjunction with NOZARIA (Nigeria) Limited led by Antonio Torres James  accompanied by Carlos Orna paid him a courtesy visit at Government House, Uyo, said the state government has already acquired land and paid compensation for the development of the housing units.

Akpabio advised the Spanish construction giant to make the project cost-effective to enable more people in the state to benefit from the housing programme to be sited in Eket, Ikot Ekpene and Uyo senatorial districts.

He praised the construction for their designs and stressed the need for Private-Public Partnership arrangement, noting “I hope you have the money to develop the housing units. We would donate land, but we can guarantee 50 per cent up front cost of the total package”.

On the development of Nwaniba Beach front, the governor said with the existence of oil giants- Mobil Producing Nigeria Unlimited and yet-to-be-established Centrica, a consortium of three companies the project would be viable.

 Akpabio promised to set up a team headed by the Commissioner for Housing and Urban Renewal to work with the company to actualise the housing programme of the state government.       

Commenting on the need for collaboration for the establishment of refinery in the state, he thanked the team for the proposal and restated the intention of the government to establish Ibaka Industrial Project capable of accommodating a refinery and ammonia plant, among others.

The governor who harped on the need to partner with the company pledged to arrange a meeting with the Waripason, the state government’s international consultant with a view to working to actualize the vision of the company.    

Arc. Carlos Orna showed the governor and members of the State Executive Council the designs and prototypes of the housing units comprising educational zone, water, solar power and recreational centre, among others.

Orna, the technical director of the company said the 500 housing units though ambitious would occupy about 1,500,000 sq. metres while the beach project would have 10 towers in front of Nwaniba River near Le Meridien Hotel and Golf Resort, Uyo.