’Federal Housing Project isn’t abandoned in Bayelsa’

AGAINST the backdrop that the federal housing projects in Bayelsa state have been abandoned, Mr Nwachukwu Achebe, Federal Controller, Housing Sector in Bayelsa, said that said the assertion is misconstrued, though the work pace is slow owing to the topography of the state.

He said further that the project is seated on five hectares of land cleared and sand filled for the National Housing for the people of the state.

This, Achebe at the site of the National Housing Programme Estate in Elebele, Ogbia Local Government Area of Bayelsa on Saturday during the media tour of on-going Federal Government projects in the state.

He posited that the special challenge posed by the state terrain require courage to put through the projects, because the state is constantly combating with ocean tidal erosion, and the land is swampy and below sea level.

Continuing, Achebe averred that several metric tons of sand were allowed to sediment before we could reclaim and regenerate the required soil texture that would carry the housing structures, adding ‘’we did the reclamation with the utmost patience to ensure there is no case of building collapse which could lead to loss of lives.

He emphasized that the federal government goal was to ensure that housing deficit across the states is redressed, while the project would also create jobs for unemployed site workers and local contractors in the state.

Describing the project, the Controller explained that each structure has two and three bedrooms semi-detached bungalow, as well as three condominiums consisting of 24 units flat with a total of 72 housing units.

Achebe, however, noted that the project is being designed to take care of the low and medium income earners across the country.

“This project is to show the Federal Government commitment to make houses affordable for the people; it is also designed to suit the physically challenged persons.

“It comprised one bedroom, two bedrooms and three bedrooms apartments with complete housing schools, recreation centre, worship centres, clinic, shopping areas among others.

On the on-going federal secretariat in Bayelsa, the controller said that the project has attained above 75 percent completion.

Achebe said that secretariat model consists of 400 offices including nine committee rooms and one conference hall of over 250 capacity.

He reiterated that the project awarded since 2012 was delayed by the challenge posed by the topographical nature of the state, that require clearing, sand filling, reclamation/regeneration of land and piling work before construction could take place Bayelsa, foundation redesign, pilling, sand-filling among others.

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“The project is over 75 percent completion and definitely the building will be ready by June 2018,” Achebe said.

Mr Sunday Omekwe, General Manager, Trenur Nigeria Limited, handling the federal secretariat project, said the workers are committed to handover at the expected period of completion.

Speaking with some of the artisans employed in the site, they commended the Federal Government for the opportunity to work and earn a better living.

Mr Chidi Onwe, a supplier of building materials such as cement, chippings and sand said the project has been beneficial to his family; lauded the federal government initiative in creating jobs through project execution.