State Government Approves 19,000 Housing Units

The Enugu State Executive Council has approved the construction of 19,000 housing units as part of plans to reduce the housing shortage and make homes more affordable for residents.

The decision was reached during the council’s meeting held at the Government House in Enugu on Sunday.

Speaking after the meeting, the Commissioner for Works and Infrastructure, Mr Ben Okoh, said the new housing programme would support the ongoing development of the New Enugu City and expand residential opportunities within the state.

He explained that after completing the 6.5-kilometre dual carriageway serving the first phase of the New Enugu City project and making progress on internal road construction, the government approved the development of 1,000 fully detached terrace houses.

According to him, the estate will consist of four-bedroom and five-bedroom houses designed to meet different housing needs.

Okoh also disclosed that the government had approved another 18,000 housing units under a mass housing scheme at Gateway Estate in Enugu. He said the larger project is intended to further reduce the housing deficit while helping to lower accommodation costs across the state.

He added that the estate would be developed with supporting infrastructure, including roads, electricity and water supply, to provide a fully serviced residential community.

The commissioner further announced the immediate commencement of the 10.5-kilometre Igogoro–Amachara–Ikpamodo–Okpo-Amaada Road project, describing it as part of the government’s efforts to improve road connectivity.

He said the council also approved flood control works in parts of Nsukka that frequently experience heavy flooding. The intervention includes the construction of five connecting streets, repairs to damaged drainage channels and the clearing of blocked drains to improve water flow.

Okoh revealed that the road project had already been awarded to a contractor for immediate execution.

The Executive Council also approved the purchase of more than 30 pieces of light equipment for the Ministry of Works. The machines will be used for direct labour operations, emergency response and routine maintenance projects across the state.

According to him, the new equipment will reduce maintenance costs and enable quicker responses to infrastructure challenges.

The commissioner further said approval had been granted for the completion and upgrade of Wings C and D of the Enugu State Secretariat Complex in GRA, alongside the renovation of Wings A and B, which are already in use.

He noted that although Wings A and B were completed and commissioned in May 2015, Wings C and D had remained unfinished and had deteriorated over time.

Also briefing journalists, the Commissioner for Culture and Tourism, Dame Ugochi Madueke, announced that the council had approved three major tourism projects aimed at expanding the state’s tourism industry and attracting more visitors.

The approved developments include the Ovu Lake Golf Resort in Akpawfu, Nkanu East Local Government Area, the Akwuke Tourism Development Project in Enugu South, the Attakwu Tourism Development Project in Nkanu West, and the Okpatu–Awhum Cable Car Project.

Madueke said the Ovu Lake Golf Resort will feature an 18-hole championship golf course, a luxury hotel with more than 100 rooms, a 600-seat conference centre, boat regatta facilities, landscaped gardens, clubhouses, children’s playgrounds and other leisure facilities.

She explained that the Attakwu Tourism Project would transform the area’s natural forest and lake into an ecotourism destination with an animal sanctuary and other attractions centred on nature.

According to her, the Akwuke Tourism Project will include a modern sand beach, a theme park, a water park, a scenic boardwalk and a recreational park designed for families.

Madueke added that the approved Okpatu–Awhum Cable Car Project will cover about 5.32 kilometres, linking the Cross of Hope on Okpatu Hill with the Awhum Waterfall.

She said the cable car system will operate through three stations located at the Cross of Hope, Awhum Monastery and Awhum Waterfall, with supporting facilities such as a rotunda, an experience centre and a food court for visitors.