The Akwa Ibom State Government is expanding Uyo and investing in various housing projects to cushion the effects of the rising cost of accommodation in the state.

The Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on Research and Documentation, Dr Essien Ndueso, stated this yesterday during an interview on Nigeria Delta Today, a programme on Advocate Broadcasting Network (ADBN).

Dr Ndueso also highlighted some of the measures being implemented by the administration of Governor Umo Eno to improve access to decent and affordable housing in the state.

Speaking on the rising cost of Housing in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State capital, the Governor’s Aide said the administration has embarked on several housing interventions, including the Compassionate Homes, accommodation for Local Government Area chairmen, the 250-unit ARISE Housing Estate at Mbierebe Akpawat, Ibesikpo Asutan, the 250 units at Aviation Village, the 100 units the medical village, the 64-unit housing estate for Executive and House of Assembly Members and Ewet Luxury Garden at Uruan Street, among others.

According to him, Compassionate Homes has provided shelter for hundreds of vulnerable families who previously lacked decent accommodation.

He added that the government has also provided 150 housing units to civil servants at the Grace Estate, with about 86 additional units still available for allocation.

“Through the Compassionate Homes that the Governor is building, over 461 homes have been rebuilt and given free of charge to those who never had a roof, or a good roof, over their heads.”

Dr Ndueso further disclosed that the government is currently constructing 250 housing units outside the state capital under the ARISE Housing Scheme at Ibesikpo Asutan, with the first phase of 100 units scheduled for completion by December.

According to him, another housing estate was also being developed along the medical corridor, with 100 housing units planned to provide accommodation for medical personnel and ensure that housing does not constitute a challenge to their effective service delivery.

He also cited the ARISE Palm Resort, which he said has 20 housing units comprising five three-bedroom flats and 15 two-bedroom flats, as another intervention designed to provide accommodation and support economic activities.

“The Arise Palm Resort, for example, has another 20 units of housing, three-bedroom flats, and then 15 two-bedroom flats.“

The Governor’s Aide explained that the rising demand for accommodation in Uyo was one of the factors influencing rental costs, noting that government could not directly dictate prices to private landlords.

He, however, said the government was addressing the challenge by expanding the state capital and opening up previously underdeveloped areas for residential development.

“Yes, government will not go to landlords and start telling them what to do. You see, it is just the case of someone opening up his business and saying this is how much the cost of his own commodity is.

“If that is too expensive, then of course the other person that is selling cheaper will get more consumers.”

Dr Ndueso maintained that increasing the availability of housing options and opening up new areas for development would help reduce pressure on accommodation in Uyo and ultimately bring down rental costs.

He said the development of neighbouring local government areas would also contribute to decongesting Uyo by creating alternative locations for residential and economic activities.

“Look at the volume of roads opening up the rural areas, well over 1,300 km, with model schools and health centres across the 31 local government areas, and they come with residential apartments for teachers and health workers.

“The government is doing its best in ensuring that there is no monopoly in terms of what you should have as access to basic housing.

“That is why the government is opening up the state’s capital, expanding it even more, so that other places that were not packed can also be used for housing and then in that case, the cost of housing will be cut down drastically.”

Beyond housing, Ndueso said the State Government was implementing broader economic development initiatives aimed at diversifying the state’s economy from crude oil into other sectors, particularly tourism and agriculture.

“There are quite a good number of investments that the government is doing to diversify from crude oil to tourism and agriculture.”

On the safety of all the investments of the government, he further noted that the government has also put structures in place to ensure effective management of its investments and properties, including the Asset Management Committee, which takes stock and ensures the efficient management of the assets of the Government.

According to him, the measures are aimed at ensuring that government assets are properly managed, maintained and deployed for the benefit of Akwa Ibom people.

“All of them are taking measures of all government property to ensure that they are well maintained and well managed, so that the issue of management cannot be a problem.”

Dr. Essien Ndueso reiterated that expanding Uyo, developing neighbouring local government areas and increasing housing supply remained critical to addressing the pressure on accommodation and cushioning the impact of rising housing costs in the state capital.

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