NAN-H-1
Housing
Uyo, Dec. 25, 2016 (NAN) A don at the University of Calabar, Dr Edidiong Ebitu, has advised Akwa Ibom government to invest in the provision of houses for the low income earners in the state.
Ebitu gave the advice on Sunday in Uyo in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) while reacting to the 2017 budgetary provision for housing.
The don, who is an Associate Professor in Management Sciences, urged the state government to implement judiciously its yearly provisions for the housing sector.
“There is serious housing problem for the low income earners in the state. The state government should do a census of how many citizens have their own houses.
“The housing deficiency among low income earners and some civil servants should never be ignored,” Ebitu said.
The don decried deficiency in the state housing estate and called for conscious efforts to address the anomaly.
Gov. Udom Emmanuel of Akwa Ibom had proposed a budget estimate of N365 billion for 2017 out of which the sum of N16 billion was allocated for land, housing and urban development.
Ebitu noted that housing estates started in the past eight years in Uruan, Ikot Ekpene and Eket by the immediate past administration had yet to be completed.
The don explained that affordable and decent accommodation will enhance healthy living and longevity of citizens’ lives in the state.
“I urge the state government to intensify efforts in addressing the housing needs of the citizens. There is shortage in the housing sector in the state,” Ebitu said.
NAN recalls that the provision for housing, land and urban development in 2016 budget stood at N31.3 billion while the 2015 budget provided N36.7 billion for the same sector.
The don further advised the state government to invest in social housing scheme for the citizens while creating opportunities for the rich to build their high brow estates.
The state government in its 2017 budget proposal is planning to build a high brow estate called Unity Luxury Estate along airport road for wealthy citizens and industrialists. (NAN)
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Edited by Ismail Abdulaziz