Abia Targets 400 Houses For Civil Servants
UMUAHIA, July 29, (THEWILL) - Governor of Abia State, Chief Theodore Orji has laid the foundation stone of the Ochendo Housing Scheme targeted at civil servants in the state.
The project is a public-private partnership initiative between the Abia State government and Aso Investment Development Company, and is expected to produce 400 housing units of two and three bedroom bungalows in the first phase.
Performing the ceremony at the Amauba Housing Estate at Avodim, Ubakala, Governor Orji said it is the wish of his government to fulfill the Millennium Development Goals in the area of affordable houses for the people of the state.
He said that government had that target when it embarked on the building of the Amokwe, Amauba Housing Estates and the commissioner’s quarters.
The government, he explained, had also commenced the process of addressing housing needs in governance by embarking on the worker’s secretariat, the international conference centre and the new government house.
The governor said that under the arrangement, the government would provide the land and infrastructure while the private investor would be responsible for financing the project.
Orji stated that beneficiaries of the houses, which will be sold at moderate cost, will come from salaried workers on a negotiated mortgage agreement. He also said buyers would pay by installments. He called on the private sector partner to ensure that the houses are delivered on schedule.
In his speech, commissioner for housing, Okezie Orji said the state is poised for growth in the housing sector as the new estate would be part of a scheme of houses that have been built by the government. He thanked Aso Investment and Development Company for assisting the state.
Speaking, vice chairman of Aso investment and Development Company, Mr. Collins Chikeruba said the company has done a lot in providing low-cost houses, and that it would collaborate with the Abia state government to develop 28 hectares of land in the state.
He said that the project, targeted at civil servants and low-income earners, would be developed in seven phases with the first 50 houses completed in the next 12 months, adding that beneficiaries of the scheme will enjoy mortgages at 6 per cent interest rate.