Ministry Okays Standard Of On-goging 150 Housing Units In Asaba


BY DOMINIC OKONTA
THE Federal Ministry of Lands and Housing has expressed satisfaction on the pace and standard of the on-going 150 ‘Civil Servant’s Housing Unit’ along Ibusa road, Asaba.
The inspection team led by an Assistant Director, Architectural Service in the Federal Ministry of Lands and Housing, Arc Suara Akiola, expressed surprise at the pace, workmanship and amount of capital the state government has spent on the project, and said the project was commendable and affordable for state civil servants.
Arc. Akiola noted that the 150 housing units, near completion and made-up of 50 one bed room apartments, 50 two bed room apartments and 50 three bed room apartments are standard and affordable for state work force.
According to him, if the N614.9m allegedly spent was injected into the project, civil servants in state can afford to secure an apartment in the housing estate with less financial stress, ‘‘with what I’m seeing here, civil servants can afford it’’.
His words, ‘‘with this construction cost (N614.9m), spent on this big and good housing units, you have done well, you are not even using direct labour to execute this standard project, this is indeed good and that’s what the Federal Government wants too’’.
Speaking during the visit, the state Commissioner for Housing, Chief Paulinus Akpeki said that the project will be completed in six weeks time.
He said that the eight hectares land was acquired about six months ago, but noted that the contractor moved into the site and commenced operation two months ago, adding that the delay experienced arose from the misunderstanding the ministry had with the natives, which was later resolved amicably.
In spite of this little set back, the project which would be completed in six weeks time once the contractor is empowered financially, would be allocated to civil servants at owner occupy bases, adding that a system of payment will be worked out as the Head of Service would be involved.
On the cost to acquire a bed room unit apartment which according to him, cost the state government over N3.9m million, may be put at N2.8m, two- bed room flat built at the cost of N4.9m will cost N4.5m and the three bed room flat erected at N5.4m will cost N4.9m for a civil servant to own at a period of 10 years.
Chief Akpeki further said that bore hole has been constructed before the commencement of the building at the site, while the Ministries of Works, Energy and Water Resources have been consulted for the construction of access roads, electricity and potable water in the estate.
While commending the state Governor, Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan for the responsiveness and financial commitment which led to the success of the project, he added that the cost of road, electricity, water and other infrastructure facilities construction was not included in the total cost of the construction.