Cross River plans new housing policy

POISED to make accommodation available for all in the next few years, Cross State government is putting in place a new housing policy.

Briefing reporters recently in Calabar, Special Adviser to the Governor on Housing and Mortgage Financing, Mr. Edward Ogon, said already, his department was working on a housing policy document, which will “serve as our guide and our road-map”.

He explained that in the new housing policy, “we want to put up a system in place that will guarantee the safety and confidence of investors and ensure the system works”.

Ogon added that the state government was committed to ensuring that relevant infrastructure was put in place in the estates.

He said Governor Liyel Imoke was very passionate about the scheme and was ready to commit funds to ensure that infrastructure, including roads and electricity, were made available.

He said already, the state government was embarking on the construction of 4,000 housing units for public servants in the state in the next three years.

Ogon stated that the scheme was part of government’s plan to provide affordable housing for its citizens in fulfillment of the governor’s campaign promises.

According to him, the housing project will cover major urban centres in the three senatorial districts of the state.

The urban centres include Akpabuyo and Odukpani in the Southern District; Ugep and Ikom in the Central and Ogoja in the Northern District.

He said in line with the policy of Private Public Partnership (PPP) of the government, it was working with a number of private developers.