Dangiwa Flags-Off Construction Of 10,000 Houses In Enugu

The Minister of Housing and Urban Development, Architect Ahmed Musa Dangiwa, on Wednesday, performed the groundbreaking for 10,000 housing units in Enugu State.

The event, attended by the Executive Governor of Enugu State, Dr. Peter Mbah, marked the commencement of Graceland Estate, developed by COPEN Group.

A statement issued in Abuja by the Ministry of Housing and Urban Development quoted him to have said that the project aligned with the President Bola Ahmed Tinubu administration’s agenda to provide affordable housing to Nigerians.

“This estate, part of the 10,000-housing unit Coal City Eastern Extension Layout, aligns with President Bol Tinubu’s goal to deliver quality and affordable housing to all Nigerians. As you may be aware, the housing challenge in our country is immense.

“Statistics show that to address this problem, we need to build approximately 550,000 housing units annually over the next ten years, which would require about N5.5trn per annum,” he said.

On the challenge that the housing deficit poses, he said the situation must be perceived as an opportunity to innovate and bring about solutions that will trigger sustainable housing delivery in Nigeria not just in the short-term, but for future generations as well.
“This huge housing deficit is the result of ineffective implementation of housing policies, suboptimal performance of housing delivery institutions, an undeveloped housing market, an untapped secondary mortgage market, and, of course, a tough macroeconomic environment’’, he said.

To address these issues, he said a mix of solutions are being pursued to bridge the deficit including exploring funding options, such as private sector developers, housing finance institutions— both local and international— philanthropic bodies, well-meaning Nigerians, and corporate Nigeria on board to make the necessary impact, as well as partnerships with reputable private developers.

He commended the state governor for creating the enabling environment and making available 260 hectares in a viable location and urged him to continue the good work he has started.

“I would like to express my profound appreciation to the Executive Governor of Enugu State, His Excellency, Dr. Peter Mbah for creating an enabling environment for private sector participation in housing development in the state.

“I have been here on a couple of occasions and had a series of interactions with His Excellency and I can say that he is a visionary leader who is quietly doing and accomplishing great things. Your Excellency, Enugu State is lucky to have you as a Governor. Without your Excellency’s support and encouragement, this project that we are here to perform groundbreaking for would not have been possible,” he noted.

Dangiwa also commended the Managing Director/Chief Executive of Copen Group, Rev. Sullivan Chime, who he described as a good friend, housing stakeholder, and advocate for affordable housing, for the example he is setting in the state and beyond.

Mbah, who was represented by his deputy, Barrister Ifeanyi Ossai, hailed the initiative by COPEN Group, describing its Managing Director, Chime as an illustrious son of the state.

The governor charged stakeholders to bring down the cost of housing construction.