Ebonyi State: Minister Tasks Developers On Quality Execution Of Projects

The Nigerian Minister of Housing and Urban Development, Ahmed Dangiwa has urged developers handling the Renewed Hope Housing Estate in Ebonyi state, Southeast Nigeria to adhere to standard and specifications to deliver quality houses.

Dangiwa gave the advice in Abakaliki, Ebonyi state capital during the groundbreaking of 250 housing units in the state under the Renewed Hope Cities and Estates Programme.

He told the developers handling all Renewed Hope Cities and Estates projects across the country, that the Ministry would not tolerate substandard work at all the sites and contractors must build in line with the terms and approved standards for the benefits of Nigerians.

The Minister of State, Abdullahi Gwarzo represented by the Director Engineering Services, Nwufo stated that, “the Nigeria government planned to deliver 50,000 housing units under phase 1 and part of it’s broad aim is to help President Tinubu’s goal to build a 1 trillion dollar economy.”

The Ebonyi State Governor, Francis Nwifuru Ogbonna, represented by Deputy Governor, Princess Patricia Obila, described the project as a remarkable journey by the Nigerian Government to provide affordable housing.

The flag-off in Ebonyi state marks the first of eight (8) states in the second leg of ground-breaking to be performed for the Renewed Hope Cities and Estates Programme launched by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in February 2024. The exercise will cover six southern states and two in the North-Central region of the country.

The first leg of the exercise began with the groundbreaking of 1,500 housing units in the northern part of Nigeria, comprising 250-housing unit Renewed Hope Estates, in Katsina, Yobe, Gombe and Sokoto States and a 500-housing unit Renewed Hope City in Kano State.

Dangiwa stated; “Work is currently ongoing at each of these sites, and our plan is to have them all completed within the next couple of months and made available to Nigerians in line with the President’s desire to provide quality housing for all Nigerians.”

“This second leg will see us break ground for a total of 2,000 Renewed Hope Housing Units in eight (8) states in the South and North Central of our country. This includes 250 housing units, each, starting in Ebonyi today, followed by Abia, Akwa Ibom, Delta, Osun, Oyo, Benue and Nasarawa States,” he said.

The Renewed Hope Estate to be developed by Jephthah Global Investments Ltd, Proportion Construction Works Nigeria Limited, Ideal Shelters Limited and KLYN Construction Works Ltd, will have 50 units of 1-bedroom semi-detached bungalows, 150 units of 2-bedroom semi-detached bungalows, and 50 units of 3-bedroom semi-detached bungalows.

Dangiwa said; “we have designed these housing units in a way that makes it easy and affordable for people to offtake by using organic designs to allow for future expansion as the income of beneficiaries increases. What this means is that 1-bedroom can be expanded to 2 bedrooms and 2-bedrooms can also be expanded to 3 bedrooms as the owner’s financial situation improves or his family grows.”

While urging the developers to work within the stipulated time frame of three months, the Minister emphasised the economic component of housing construction and its potential to develop the economy.

Dangiwa said; “Statistics show that construction of one housing unit creates an average of 25 direct and indirect jobs. So, for these 250 housing units that we are building here in Ebonyi, we aim to create jobs for over 6,500 people in various trades. From professionals like architects, civil engineers, mechanical engineers to masons, plumbers, tilers, electricians etc. This is besides the economic activities involving persons selling food, supplying blocks, building materials and the likes. The value chain effect of construction work on this site is big and creates positive economic impact.” 

He thanked the Governor of Ebonyi State, Francis Nwifuru for his prompt approval and grant of land for the project at no cost, noting that his action has helped to reduce as much as 30% of the cost of the units in the Estate for the benefit of potential homeowners.

He said; “This is a dividend of responsible governance and I applaud Your Excellency for this.”

The Ebonyi state Governor also commended President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for creating a separate ministry for housing to ensure effectiveness in housing delivery, saying that Ebonyi state proudly support the initiative.

Similarly, Dangiwa also noted that the renewed hope estate is being implemented under the N50 billion 2023 supplementary budget.

He called on other state Governors to also provide land for Renewed Hope Estates Project to be built in their states as provided for in the 2024 budget.

Mercy Chukwudiebere