A major push to reduce the housing deficit in the South-East has taken off as Igboebinie, a regional development consortium, and Hand of God Construction Company Limited signed a long-term agreement to deliver 100,000 housing units across the region.
The Memorandum of Understanding, endorsed in Enugu, covers the development of modern housing estates in Enugu, Anambra, Imo, Abia, Ebonyi, and Asaba in Delta State.
The decade-long project is seen as one of the most ambitious regional housing plans ever undertaken in eastern Nigeria.
The initiative aims to support national efforts to close Nigeria’s estimated 28-million-unit housing gap while boosting economic activity and urban renewal in the region.
According to the consortium, participating states have already allocated large parcels of land, while both organisations will jointly finance the project
. The estates will feature smart-city elements and infrastructure designed to stimulate trade, technology adoption, industrial growth, and investment.
The developers project that the scheme will generate around three million jobs and significantly improve housing access for families across the region.
President of Igboebinie, Chinedu Nsofor, described the project as a historic step towards regional renewal driven by innovation and unity. He said the South-East possesses the talent and economic potential to build wealth, reduce poverty, and strengthen security through infrastructure development and entrepreneurship.
Nsofor also announced the introduction of a “zero construction mechanism,” a new model developed to cut building costs and expand affordability.
Managing Director of Hand of God Construction Company Limited, David Nwachukwu, said the partnership draws from the Southeast REDAN Cities Initiative and growing interest from Igbo communities at home and abroad who want to invest in the region.
He said the project will deploy digital and tech-driven solutions to fast-track large-scale delivery of modern housing.
Enugu Commissioner for Lands, Patrick Okolie, praised the initiative and noted that the state had already set aside about 50 hectares for the project. He added that Enugu had criminalised land grabbing to safeguard investors.
The commissioners for lands from Ebonyi and Imo States also endorsed the partnership, highlighting its potential to expand housing, create jobs, and strengthen public-private collaboration.
