Akwa Ibom Housing Projects Reach 1,048 Units Across Six Locations
The Akwa Ibom State Government has acquired and earmarked about 150 hectares of land across six locations for housing development, with 1,048 housing units currently at various stages of completion and delivery.
The Commissioner for Housing, Dr Henry Archibong, disclosed this during a ministerial media briefing, explaining that the state’s housing programme under Governor Umo Eno is focused not only on constructing homes but also on developing affordable, sustainable and economically viable communities.
According to Archibong, the housing programme is aligned with the administration’s ARISE Agenda and the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 11, which promotes inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable cities and communities.
He said the ministry’s vision was to become a model institution for effective service delivery by promoting operational efficiency and making optimal use of resources to provide decent, quality and affordable housing.
The commissioner explained that the statutory responsibilities of the Ministry of Housing include formulating and implementing policies for the design, construction and maintenance of public buildings, developing residential housing policies, vetting and approving building drawings, valuing buildings for government purposes and managing state-owned properties in Uyo, Lagos, Abuja and other parts of the country.
Key housing projects across the state
Archibong identified several major housing projects being implemented by the state government, including Aviation Village Phase 1, Doctors’ Residence at Ibom Medical City, Executive and Legislative Quarters, Judiciary Quarters and the ARISE City Social and Affordable Housing Estate.
The Aviation Village Phase 1 occupies about 15.072 square metres of fenced land and comprises 100 housing units, made up of 50 two-bedroom and 50 three-bedroom apartments.
The project is 98 per cent complete.
Five of the units have already been allocated to the Ministry of Aviation to accommodate officials and visitors from the Federal Ministry of Aviation involved in project supervision.
The estate also has a model primary school, a 70,000-litre water facility with reticulation, a 7.13-kilometre road network, electricity infrastructure, a police station and a solar-powered closed-circuit television system.
Archibong said Governor Eno had directed that a secondary school be included in the second phase of the development.
At Ibom Medical City, the Doctors’ Residence covers 11.8 hectares and comprises 50 three-bedroom bungalows and 50 four-bedroom terrace duplexes.
The development also includes a model school and recreational facilities and is currently about 70 per cent complete.
The Judiciary Quarters, located along Idongesit Nkanga Avenue, Ring Road 3, occupies 6.3 hectares.
The project consists of 50 four-bedroom duplexes, each with two boys’ quarters, as well as a recreational centre and conference hall. It is also about 70 per cent complete.
Other housing interventions
The commissioner also listed several other housing interventions being undertaken by the administration.
These include the 500 ARISE Compassionate Homes programme, of which 438 units have been completed and delivered.
The government has also developed 236 units of flats at Grace Estate, with 150 of the units allocated to civil servants.
Other projects include 35 duplex units at Ewet Luxury Garden and 31 residences for local government chairmen, which are currently under construction.
Earlier reports from the state government had also put the total number of housing units delivered or under development at more than 1,048, including the Compassionate Homes, Grace Estate, Aviation Village, Medical Residences, government quarters, Ewet Luxury Garden and local government chairmen’s residences.
Housing projects create jobs
Archibong said the housing programme was also contributing to economic activity across the state.
According to him, between 5,000 and 6,000 people are benefiting directly and indirectly from the projects through employment and related services.
He said artisans and labourers working on the projects earn between N7,000 and N12,000 daily.
“Housing is both a social intervention and an economic development tool. It is the single most important facilitator of economic growth,” Archibong said.
The commissioner explained that the impact of the projects extended beyond the provision of accommodation because construction activities were generating employment and supporting businesses involved in building materials, transportation, skilled labour and other ancillary services.
Government plans facelift for Ewet Housing Estate
Archibong also disclosed that Governor Eno had constituted a committee to assess the Ewet Housing Estate and recommend measures to improve its physical condition and security architecture.
He said the committee had completed its assessment and submitted its report to the government.
The intervention is expected to address concerns around the estate’s infrastructure and security while improving the overall living environment for residents.
Government seeks stronger housing partnerships
Despite the number of projects underway, Archibong acknowledged that the state still faced a significant housing deficit.
He said government could not address the challenge alone and would therefore continue to strengthen collaboration with mortgage institutions, professional bodies and private developers.
The partnerships are expected to improve access to housing finance and support the expansion of affordable housing supply across the state.
The commissioner said the government’s approach was to combine public-sector housing interventions with private-sector participation and stronger financing mechanisms to reach more residents.
The state’s housing programme forms part of the wider ARISE Agenda, with the government positioning housing development as both a social welfare intervention and a means of stimulating economic activity.
With about 150 hectares earmarked across six locations and 1,048 housing units at various stages of development or delivery, the administration is continuing to expand its housing programme while seeking additional partnerships to address the state’s housing needs.
