President Bola Tinubu on Friday, commissioned work to start on a 250-housing unit project, in Ekpene Ukim, Uruan Local Government Area, Akwa Ibom.
Speaking at the groundbreaking ceremony, Tinubu said that the project was part of the Renewed Hope Cities and Estates programmes of his administration.
Represented by Ahmed Dangiwa, the Minister of Housing and Urban Development, Tinubu stated that the implementation stage of the project would create massive job opportunities for youths.
“This project will create no fewer than 6,500 construction sector-based jobs for architects, civil engineers, mechanical engineers, manson, plumbers, tilers, electricians among others.
“Today’s ceremony is a continuation of the nationwide groundbreaking exercise for housing projects under the Renewed Hope Cities and Estates Programme of the Federal Government.
“The current administration plans to deliver no fewer than 50,000 housing units across the federation under the first phase of this programme,” he said.
The president said that the housing programme was intended to provide shelter, uplift lives, create jobs and boost economic development in line with the Renewed Hope Agenda.
“Recall that during the presidential kickoff of the programme in Abuja, we embarked on the first leg of this exercise with the groundbreaking of 1,500 housing units in the northern part of Nigeria.
“This includes 250 housing units in each Renewed Hope Estate in Katsina, Yobe, Gombe, and Sokoto states. It also includes a 500-housing unit Renewed Hope City in Kano.
“Work is currently ongoing in each of these sites. Our intention is to complete work on these projects within three months. We have zero tolerance for delays as far as this programme is concerned,” he said.
Tinubu urged the developers, Messrs Trust Global Limited, Springwell Intercontinental Resources, and Hyousungs Limited, to ensure that the estates were built according to specifications.
“We will not tolerate substandard work from any developer. We will explore all necessary legal means to ensure that the jobs are delivered. If you collect government money, you must do the job.
“The developers must adhere to the timeline and finish within three months so that we can begin the process of getting Akwa Ibom indigenes to purchase and move in,” he said.
Earlier, Gov. Umo Eno of Akwa Ibom, described the housing project as a good omen to the state, and urged the developers to ensure expertise and commitment in its delivery.
Represented by the Head of Service, Mr Effiong Essien, Eno said that the state government understood the importance of housing to the wellbeing of the populace.
“As a government, we have constructed 250 housing units for workers, we are also building compassionate home for the less privilege in the state,” he said.
(NAN)
By Sunday Bassey