Rivers to partner private sector in housing development

Barrister Emma Okah inspecting Housing projects with Governor  Nyesom Wike

Rivers State Commissioner of Housing, Barr. Emma Okah, has emphasised the need of private investors in the housing sector to take full advantage of Government liberal housing policy under the Governor Nyesom Ezebunwo Wike’s administration.

The Housing Commissioner, in a press statement on Tuesday noted that the state is bedeviled with a housing deficit that needs drastic intervention.

“Rivers State Government plans to undertake massive housing development for the different economic levels of residents. As a caring Government, we will create opportunities for private investors to take advantage of this prospect,” he said.

Okah said government has a good housing policy within the framework of the National Housing Policy and UN-Habitat to enable easy access to lands for viable real estate investors who in turn would establish new and well planned mega cities that are affordable with ample parks, schools, sports clubs, places of worship and commerce.

“Such towns would also have modern facilities like water, electricity, internet facilities etc,” he said.

“Indeed speed and quality is needed to meet the ever increasing demand for houses across the state and government cannot achieve the need to transfer more houses to the public alone,” Okah stressed.

“This is because the growth in the number of middle and upper-middle class families with the associated need to have a home of their own have necessitated the need for a combined effort as government at both the state and federal levels in the country cannot meet the housing needs of the people.”

The Honorable Commissioner stated that partnership with willing and interested investors in the housing sector is imperative as such constructions would further provide employment and a secured society as thousands of residents will be employed directly and indirectly on the short run.