Umahi flags off ANDP 5,000 housing project in Ebonyi …says joint fund by govt, BoI for SMEs underway

The Governor of Ebonyi State, Engr. David Nweze Umahi  on Saturday laid the foundation for the 5,000 units of blocks for the less privileged in Umuobuna Etiti Uburu in Ohaozara Local Government Area.

Umahi, at the ceremony which attracted members of the state Executive Council, traditional rulers,   businessmen, youths and many others, thanked the initiators of the project, Africa Nations Development Programme for considering Ebonyi State for the project.

The governor  added that a  similar project would take place in Izzi Local Government Area and enjoined the people to release their land for such development.

Umahi,who headed straight to the venue of the ceremony from his working visit to Abuja, also  said that his administration and the Bank of Industry have planned to deposit N2 billion each to fund small scale industries.

The governor, in a statement on Sunday by his Chief Press Secretary, Emma Anya,  noted that the aim was to enable people engage in productive ventures. He  explained that the money would be made available for any group of people in the state with viable projects.

  His words “We have  concluded discussion with  the Bank of Industry and what the BoI is   funding small scale industries and programmes. We  have offered to deposit in a common account the sum of N2 billion and  the bank  will add their own N2 billion. With this, any group of persons or corporative that comes up with viable project today, they will draw from this fund. It  doesn’t matter if the entire fund  is spent  in one LGA. It’s going to be  first come first served. This is an incentive to draw our people out to begin to do things with their hands.”
The governor said that efforts  were  on   to settle for investors interested in the development of limestone and salt in the state. He disclosed that   a multi-national cement company   Larfage, was at the final stage of establishing the biggest cement factory in the country in  Ebonyi LGA.

He said,  ” We have also spoken to about three investors that are very much interested in our salt and limestone and it’s our that   Nigercem in Nkalagu will  very  soon resume production.  We’re also working with Larfage to develop the biggest cement factory in the whole of Nigeria at Ebonyi LGA. They’re at the final stage of doing this.”
While the governor appreciated the ANDP for the project, he announced that the two- kilometre  of road   requested  by the organisation  would be constructed.

  “Your Excellency, Ambassador Samson Omojuyigbe, we want to thank you very much and we will give you all the support. Presently, we have very good road network around this location and the only request you made which is about two kilometres    of   road, the moment you start construction, we will do the road  to encourage you.”
Earlier, the Director General of the ANDP,  Amb. Omojuyigbe, said   the new city would on  completion alleviate the suffering of the less privileged and   guarantee decent life   for the coming generation.

On his part, the Country Director, Mr. Ifeanyichukwu Eze, said that the housing project would  comprise 5,000 detached two bedroom bungalows and other facilities such as schools, water, electricity, police station, barracks, hospitals among others.

He stated    that the occupants would be trained and empowered to enable them have standard means of livelihood.
In their separate remarks, the Chairman of Ohaozara LGA,    Nkechinyere Iyioku, and the Commissioner for Lands, Chief Sunday Inyima, commended  Governor Umahi  for attracting the project to the area.