The Federal Government in Nigeria has re-awarded a contract for the construction of one hundred 3-bedroom flat housing scheme for both civil and public servants in Akwa Ibom state.
The Principal consultant of one of the firms handling the project, Novone Consult Limited, Arc. Ezekiel Nya-Etok, stated this last Friday while taking selected newsmen around the project site located at Ikot Ntuen Nsit, opposite the University of Uyo teaching Hospital. He noted that the people of the state are fortunate to witness the project in their domain, which he described as the first of its kind in the country with full onsite infrastructure.
Arc. Nya-Etok explained that though the project will comprise 100 units of 3 bedroom semidetached bungalows to accommodate 200 home owners, started 10 years ago and stalled on technical grounds, has been re-awarded by the Minister of Power, Works and Housing, Babatunde Fashola (SAN), with budgetary provision in the 2017 approved Budget for its infrastructure.
The Principal Partner of Novone Consult Limited, who said the land was given by the Akwa Ibom State Government during Obong Victor Attah’s administration, however informed our reporter that 30 units of the project are at various levels of construction between German Floor and Lintel Levels. He promised that the construction will be completed in about a year’s time from now.
Arc. Nya-Etok said the project is funded and will also be managed by Novone Consult, according to him, “In terms of funding, the infrastructure for the project is provided for in the present approved budget of the Federal Government and it is the only social housing estate in the whole country. We have three sets of beneficiaries.
The first set includes those who won it through the balloting process 10 years ago and the cost is N7million; the second set includes public servants at the cost of N7.5million, and the third set includes the general public at the cost of N8.5million. In fact, it is a retirement programme for those who are able to get the property because its rental value is going to be high. It is not funded by government but by Novone Consult.”
“It is our intention to ensure that as much as 40-50% of the units have Civil Servants as beneficiaries were they will enjoy certain concessions, and also be availed of the National Housing Fund Mortgage facility. We are having direct access to the Federal Housing Scheme Fund through the Federal Mortgage Bank, because it is a Federal Government Programme.
So, we will put together all the contributors to the National Housing Fund. Again, we are making it easy in such a way that husband and wife can reach the affordability threshold by merging their incomes together. So, this project is going to give 200 Akwa Ibom people National Housing Fund for the first time in the history of the state and I really urge all of us to take advantage of this programme,” he explained.
When asked how long it will take Novone Consult to complete the project, the Principal Partner said “The project started a month ago and we have the capacity to get it completed in 12 months and I can assure you that. On the delivery aspect, we have a standard approach to housing delivery. That is, we are uploading every single potential buyer to a mortgage company and once their terms and condition are met regarding the repayment plan, a buyer can get the keys to the property with just 25% payment.”
He further said Novone Consult was “in talks with the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) and Akwa Ibom State Government to ensure that the estate is a gated estate with the best of modern facilities.”
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