Enugu State governor, Dr Peter Mbah, has assured citizens that his administration is working hard to solve the housing deficit in the state.
He stated at the groundbreaking ceremony of the Graceland Estate in Coal City Eastern Extension Alliance Estate that the project would deliver about 1200 housing units across different cadres for the people of the state.
The governor who was represented by his deputy, Ifeanyi Ossai, expressed satisfaction with the activities of the state Housing Development Corporation, stressing that it’s partnership with the private sector on housing development was yielding positive results.
The Graceland estate which the corporation is developing with Copen Services is part of the 10,000 housing unit coal city eastern extension layout in the state.
Mbah said that from the onset of his administration, he made it clear that he was poised to provide shelter to residents of the state.
General Manager of Enugu State Housing Development Corporation (ESHDC), Gerald Asogwa, who stated that the state remained the safest place for investment, praised Governor Mbah for his efforts.
“Without your Excellency’s support and encouragement, this project that we are here to perform groundbreaking would not have been possible,” Asogwa said.
“This monumental occasion marks the beginning of a visionary project that will not only contribute to the economic growth of our state but also enhance the quality of life for our people.”
Asogwa said that the estate would serve as a beacon of progress, creating jobs, fostering investment, providing much-needed housing for a growing population, and most especially addressing the housing deficit in the country.
Performing the groundbreaking, Minister of Housing and Urban Development, Ahmed Dangiwa, stated that Enugu state had been selected for the development of a 2000-unit Renewed Hope City, in the southeast region, which he added will be delivered as part of the MoU the government signed with a consortium of developers for 100,000 housing units nationwide.
Dangiwa said that solving the housing needs required the full participation of all stakeholders and a combination of different funding strategies.
“We need local and state governments, private sector developers, housing finance institutions—both local and international—philanthropic bodies, well-meaning Nigerians, and corporate Nigeria on board to make the necessary impact,” he said.
“That is why in our Comprehensive Action Plan for Housing and Urban Development, we have made Public-Private Partnerships (PPPs), collaboration with state governments, and cooperation with related bodies and institutions the key pillars for achieving the Renewed Hope Agenda in these sectors.”
The Minister commended the Enugu State Government, under the leadership of Dr. Peter Mbah, for providing the massive piece of land, estimated at over 260 hectares, in a viable and accessible location for the project.
“This demonstrates visionary leadership and a strong understanding of the importance of housing to the economic development of the state,” he said.
He also expressed happiness with the relationship existing between Copen Group and the Enugu State Government to ensure the successful and timely completion of the 10,000-unit Coal City Eastern Extension Layout.
