Edo government tasks agency on bridging housing deficit

Edo State Government has given the mandate to the Ministry of Housing to bridge the housing gap in the state, by providing social housing, site and services schemes yearly.

Permanent Secretary of the ministry, Peter Osagie, made the disclosure during a visit to Edo Development and Property Agency (EDPA) in Benin City.

Osagie, who charged the management of the EDPA to furnish his office with a brief to enable the ministry to work effectively, urged the agency to create an enabling environment for private sector participation in the housing sector.

While noting that EDPA is one of the key agencies under the ministry, he said the agency is the engine that moves the housing sector in the state.

He, however, solicited the agency’s cooperation in volunteering data on state-owned infrastructure, activities and projects to enable the ministry to work better.

He said the ministry needs to create an enabling environment for the agency to be able to carry out necessary activities as it relates to infrastructure.

Osagie, who also urged the managing director to assign a desk officer that would be relating with the ministry on its activities, added that both the agency and the ministry have policy and oversight functions for all stakeholders in the state.

Earlier, EDPA Managing Director, John Zedomi, commended the permanent secretary and his team for the visit and assured of the agency’s partnership to enable the ministry to deliver its mandate.

He said the agency would keep updating the ministry on its activities as it was charged with implementing the state government’s policy on the housing sector.