Pix: (L-R) Chief Joe Ekwunife, Managing Director of ANSIPPA, Tony
Duncan, International Sales Director, Affordable Building Concepts
Ltd, Igwe Cyril Enweze, Chairman of ANSIPPA and Chief Willie Obiano,
governor of Anambra State during the signing of an MoU for the
construction of 10,000 houses in the state…Monday
The governor of Anambra State, Chief Willie Obiano has intensified efforts to end the housing challenges of the state with the signing of an MoU that would ensure the construction of 10,000 units of housing in the state.
The project which involves a partnership with Affordable Building Concepts International Limited is estimated to be valued at $476.1m (N95.2bn) will occupy 200 hectars of land spread across five different locations in the state.
Signing the MoU in Awka on Monday, Governor Obiano expressed optimism that the project would bring a huge relief to Ndi Anambra, especially civil servants who he said had been coming to work in Awka from Enugu and Asaba.
“This is the third MoU we are signing on housing. We hope that all these will go a long way in ameliorating the challenges we are having in the housing sector, especially for civil servants. Now that we have provided security people who are living in Asaba or Enugu will begin to relocate to Anambra State,” Governor Obiano maintained.
Throwing more light on the project, the Chairman of Anambra State investment Promotion and Protection Agency (ANSIPPA), Igwe Cyril Enweze explained that it seeks to promote urban development and modernization, provide relatively affordable housing for the people as well as attract revenue through the state’s share of the profits.
Pointing out that the initiative was in line with Obiano’s economic objectives for housing and rapid infrastructural development of the state, Igwe Enweze expressed optimism that the project would provide a facelift to the capital city and drive the urbanization of its host communities.
“The project will generate 1500 direct jobs during the construction phase as well as about 6500 indirect employment opportunities of which 75 per cent will be dedicated to Ndi Anambra. Thus, the local artisans and people in the host communities will be engaged as labour and in other capacities, especially during the construction phase of the project,” Igwe Enweze further explained.
In a very brief remark, Tony Duncan, Affordable Building Concepts’ International Director of Sales for Middle East and West Africa expressed the optimism that the company would have a long term relationship with Anambra State. “I am going to be the man on the ground here. I’m coming to live in Nigeria. I’ll work hand in hand with your engineers and architects,” he explained.