By Ebriku John Friday
The Cross River State Commissioner for Housing, Dr Beatrice Igwe, has maintained that top priority palliative of the Governor of Cross River State, Sen Prince Bassey Otu, is affordable housing for Cross Riverians.
Igwe said the palliative that remain the top priority under the Otu-led administration’s People First Agenda is to ensure the comfort of the people while speaking on behalf of the State Government at a two-day conference organised by Real Estate Developers Association of Nigeria, REDAN, with the theme, ‘Enhancing Investment and Financing Investment For Sustainable Real Estate Project’, for members and stakeholders across the country.
The conference was declared opened by the Hon Minister, Federal Ministry of Housing and Urban Development, Prof Ahmed Dangiwa, who was ably represented by the Minister of State for Housing, Hon. Abdullahi Gwarzo.
Cross River State was ably represented at the conference by the Commissioner for Housing, Hon Dr Beatrice Igwe, Commissioner for Lands, Chief Felix Ekpeyong; Permanent Secretary Ministry of Lands, Ajah Francis; Chairman on House Committee on Housing, Cross River State House of Assembly, Hon. Stanley Nsemo, and General Manager Crospil, Mr Eno Obongha.
According to her, the Governor is committed to his ‘People First’ mantra which is all encompassing and first on the agenda is the provision of affordable housing for the people of Cross River State, the reason he created Ministry of Housing from the hitherto Ministry of Lands and Housing.
She further stated that the government of Cross River State has placed housing as the number one palliative over and above all the other palliatives, since it is only when “a man who can find where to lay his head that can wake up to another day.
“Therefore Cross River Govt is providing social housing for the vulnerable and the displaced and mortgage finance at the cheapest possible interest rate for all those with regular strings of income who desire to own a house at any part of the State”, she added.
Meanwhile, the real estate body also commended the Cross River State Governor, Sen Prince Bassey Otu for his commitment to housing development in the State, and also lauded the Cross River State delegation for their attendance and active participation during the conference.
Also, the Cross River State delegation paid a courtesy visit to the Hon. Minister of Housing and Urban Development, Prof Ahmed Dangiwa, at the end of the two-day conference, where they had a fruitful meeting, that will soon translate into positive impact on the housing sector in the State.
