Benue State Governor, Hyacinth Alia, on Wednesday flagged off the construction of a 32-unit housing estate aimed at reducing the rising cost of rent in Makurdi.
We gathered that the governor, who was represented by his deputy, Dr. Sam Ode, explained that the project, named Eco City, is part of his administration’s broader plan to reduce the housing shortfall in the state.
“The vision of this administration is to bridge the gap in housing, as shelter is one of the basic needs of the people. It is important to activate the property investment, which is why Benue Investment and Property Company Limited (BIPC) was created. We also want to create an enabling environment for the private sector who are into housing to thrive and build up their businesses,” Alia said.
He praised the Benue Investment and Property Company Limited (BIPC) for taking the initiative and urged the management to attract more investors to drive the state’s development agenda.
The Group Managing Director of BIPC, Dr. Raymond Asemakaha, noted that the Eco City project, sited at the former BBL quarters, was designed to ease the accommodation challenges faced by residents.
He explained that the current development is the first of three phases.
“We have another 30 hectares of land along Gboko Road that would take about 100 units of housing. The duration for the completion of these housing units is 12 months, and then the price for each unit would be put in place,” he said.
According to Asemakaha, the estate is part of BIPC’s drive to provide modern and affordable housing to Benue people. He added that the company plans to develop more estates across the state with flexible arrangements to ensure broad access, including for civil servants.
