Akwa Ibom government, Family Homes Fund plan six new estates

In its efforts at decongesting the city centre , Akwa Ibom state government has planned six new estates.

Already, lands have been acquired for housing projects to be located in Uyo, Ikot Ekpene, Eket, Ikot Abasi, Onna and Uruan.

The state government is partnering Family Homes Fund in the project. Construction is expected to start this November on the 1,000 units of various houses.

Another developer will build 3,000 units of houses at Odiok Itam in Itu local government council, according to the Commissioner for Lands and Housing, Ime Ekpo.

He told The Guardian that the state has also earmarked 1,000 units of houses of various typologies for the project.

Some of these areas, he said are neighbouring councils to the state capital where workers can live and still go to work whether at the state or federal secretariat.

“These are areas we have already identified as urban areas, we want to increase the housing stocks in Akwa Ibom so that we have houses for people; we want to see how we will build low income houses especially for civil servants at a very low cost, so that by the time
they retire, they have roof over their heads.

According to him, government determination and commitment at expanding the city centre has led to its partnering with a private developer to build more houses in the state.

“On the Uyo-Abak road we have three estates in Ikot Akpayak, Ikot Mbon, Nung Ukim all on the outskirts”.

On illegal markets springing up along major streets in the city centre, the commissioner said government has already acquired land to build market before relocating the traders.

He however lamented that most of the traders along Udo Umana Street have stores inside the main market but refused and rather prefer to display their wares along the street.