Abia: Governor Otti Performs Groundbreaking Ceremony for Renewed Hope Housing Scheme

Abia State Governor, His Excellency, Alex Otti, has performed the ground-breaking ceremony of not less than 1,200 Housing units of the Federal Housing Authority (FHA) Renewed Hope Housing project in Umuahia, the State Capital.

The project is a collaborative effort between the Federal Government, through the Federal Housing Authority (FHA), and the Abia State Government, aimed at expanding access to affordable housing for residents of the State. The ground-breaking makes Abia the first State in the South East and the First Five States in the country to partner with President Tinubu-led Federal Government to do so.

Speaking during the ceremony on Tuesday, April 21, at the project site along Ubani – Uzuakoli Road in Umuahia North Local Government Area, Governor Otti disclosed that the initiative followed earlier discussions with the FHA leadership. He noted that the Authority’s Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer had approached him with the proposal at a time his administration was already working on strategies to provide affordable housing for Abia citizens.

Governor Otti expressed appreciation to the FHA leadership for their commitment to the project and commended Bola Ahmed Tinubu, for championing the Renewed Hope Housing initiative.

The Governor reiterated his administration’s readiness to partner with the Federal Government and relevant agencies to continue to deliver people-oriented projects that will enhance the welfare and living standards of Abians, stressing that such priorities are far more important to him than the distractions of politics, ethnicity, and religion.

Otti noted that before authorising the ground-breaking ceremony, all verified landowners among the host communities that donated about 100 hectares of land for the housing project had been duly compensated. The Governor advised those yet to receive payment due to bank-related issues or disputes over rightful ownership to resolve such challenges promptly in order to access their funds, which are already lodged in the bank.

“These lands are owned by families and individuals. So, we didn’t deal with communities. We dealt with families and individuals, the original owners of the land.

“And the information available to me, at least, I know I signed off, over 900 claimants, those who own the land. At the last count, anybody that has not been paid, it means there is a problem.

“That means it’s either that your account number is wrong or there are more than two or three families and individuals claiming the land.

“Over 800 out of the around 900 claimants have been settled in full. So, the remaining less than 100 people, please resolve your problem so that you can take your money. The money is sitting in the bank and is not earning interest for the State,” Gov. Otti stated.

In his address, the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, Federal Housing Authority, Hon. Oyetunde Oladimeji Ojo said that the event was a way of cementing the commitment of realising the construction of the President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Housing programme in all the States of Nigeria.

“Mr. President’s charge that the programme should be apolitical, irrespective of political affiliation was very clear and unambiguous.
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He further praised the Governor’s infrastructural strides in Aba and other parts of the State, including the provision of land and prompt payment of compensation for the Housing project. Hon. Ojo emphasized that effective governance is not about political party affiliation, but about genuine commitment to service.

Also speaking, the Commissioner for Housing, Architect Chiemela Uzoije and the Commissioner for Land Mr. Chaka Chukwumerije while noting that the project was initiated 18 years ago, thanked President Tinubu and Governor Otti for their commitment towards realising the project for the benefit of the people.

They said that the synergy between the State and the Federal government is a bold attempt in addressing the shortfalls to the housing needs of the people and noted that, it would bring the much needed development along the corridor.

Speaking on behalf of the host and donor communities, the representive of the Presidents-General of the communities., Hon. Ugochukwu Ibe expressed gratitude to Mr. President and Governor Otti. He prayed that the project would be actualised in record time.