Soludo Commissions Housing Estate In Anambra community
By Julie Sylvia, Onitsha
Governor Charles Chukwuma Soludo of Anambra State, weekend in Nkwelle-Ezunaka, Oyi Local Government Area, commissioned Federal Mortgage Bank of Nigeria, FMBN, Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, Trade Union Congress, TUC and Nigerian Employees Consultative Association, NECA, Housing Estate under the National affordable housing delivery programme for Nigerian workers.
The Governor who was ably represented by the Chief of Staff State Hon.Ernest Ezeajughi, said the issue of housing is the cardinal point of the State Government, pointing out that housing is the most important thing to the society.
“Apart from the civil servants , we still look for housing for others, we provide land and other infrastructures for the housing process. We encouraged Banks and other mortgage providers to provide leisure places like amusement parks. You should also look for cheap items for housing project to enable civil servants to afford the cost of the housing scheme ” he pleaded.
Earlier, the NLC National President, comrade Joe Ajaero, stressed the need for the civil servants to procure the housing scheme at affordable price, adding that their present salary would not go for such costly price.
“I doubt if those civil servants who earn #30,000 minimun wage will benefit from the housing scheme. It is only those of them at director level can afford the cost.
” At a minimum of #30,000 per month means in 35 years which is retirement age, he will get #12.6million,” so is difficult for him to benefit from the housing scheme,” he posited.
In his contribution, the Managing Director of Master Holdings Nigeria Limited, Mr. Kanayo Nwanbu, who was represented by Chief Kingsley Chukwuma, stated that Anambra should earmark land for a housing estate at an affordable price for civil servants, hinting that the commissioning was under phase two of FMBN/NLC/TUC/NECA collaboration.
“The Nkwelle-Ezunaka housing project consists of 180 housing units, comprising of 120 units of 2-bedroom semi-detached bungalows and 60 units of 3-bedroom fully-detached bungalows at seven and eight million naira respectively.
“This project is estimated to generate over 2160 direct and indirect jobs at a conservative rate of 12 jobs per housing unit over the construction period. The estate is fully serviced with basic infrastructure , including internal road network, drainage, electricity and water to create a conducive and liveable environment,” he further explained.
Contributing, the Managing Director, Housing Corporation, Anambra State, Mr Chike Anyaonu, commended all who contributed to the successful commissioning adding that the cut in price of housing fee was to support the civil servants and the entire people to become landlords.
Speaking, Mr Samuel Mike Chukwudi who represented NECA, described the commissioning as another success story as four states have now been commissioned.
He called for more housing estates for Nigerians to live and become landlords to help curtail their hardship at this econoi downturn.
Pic shows the Chief of Staff commissioning the project.
