There was jubilation in Rivers State at the weekend following the decision of Governor Siminalayi Fubara, to sign memoranda of understanding with two companies to commence the construction of 20,000 low cost housing units and a spare parts market in the state.
The agreement for the development of RIV/TAF City Housing Project on 1000 hectares of land and the spare parts market were signed for Rivers by the state Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Prof. Zacchaeus Adangor.
The Managing Director, Chief Executive Officer, Mr. Mustapha Njie signed for one of the contracting firms, TAF Africa Global.
On the development of a Central Spare Parts Market, Prof. Adangor also signed for the State government while the Chief Executive Officer, Okoh Jeff and Engr. Charles signed for GOSH Project Limited.
Speaking at the brief ceremony in Government House, Port Harcourt, Fubara charged the two investors to speed up the process for the development of the state.
He said the problem of housing for low income earners in the state remained a huge concern but was being addressed with the provision of 20,000 units of affordable houses.
Fubara said though people already knew the mantra of his administration, consolidation and continuity, they also needed to understand that it included expanding the existing structure of the current city status.
He said: “We told our people that we are not limited to the vision we inherited, but included expansion, we meant it with all seriousness and you can see with what we have done today. The city will gradually start expanding, and not limited to our present structure.
“I am happy to say this, one of our greatest problems is housing for the low income earners. Our vision as at today, is to provide for those level of people. What we have done is to give our people hope.”
On the spare parts market, Fubara said during the electioneering campaigns he promised dealers at Ikoku in Port Harcourt that he would develop a modern market for spare parts to demonstrate his care for them.
He said: “It is important because by the time the spare parts market starts up, we will have a central place where businesses that have to do with vehicles; repairs, sales and other associated activities will be established for the traders. It won’t be just a market, it will also bring about a level of development within that axis.”
He charged the investors to ensure immediate commencement of the projects and to carry out the groundbreaking without delay.
Speaking for TAF Africa Global, Mr. Mustapha Njie said a subsidiary of his company called Pricewise Home Nigeria Limited would develop 20,000 housing in phases on the 1000 hectares of land and thanked the governor for the confidence reposed in them to do the project.
Chief Executive Officer of Gosh, Mr. Okoh Jeff assured that they would be dedicated to delivering a central spare part market that would accommodate all traders in that business in one place.
