Governments of the five states of the South East have endorsed the development of 100,000 mixed housing units across the geopolitical zone, Delta and Rivers states in South South zone.
The project, a brainchild of a Pan-Igbo consortium, Igboebinie Plc and a leading real estate firm in Nigeria, Hand of God Construction Company Limited, is expected to attract other infrastructure that would bring about full development of the region.
Speaking in Enugu at the signing of a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) between Hand of God Construction Company Limited, and Igboebinie Plc, for the development of the said 100,000 mixed housing units, the representatives of the states, who are Commissioners of Lands and Urban Development, took turns to eulogize the project and its importance to the Igboland.
The Commissioners: Chief Chaka Chukwumereije of Abia; Dr. Nwaobashi Matthew of Ebonyi; Hon. Chimaobi Okolie of Enugu and Hon. Enyinna Onuegbu of Imo, all explained what their state governments had done in the area of fighting the problem of housing deficiency and their readiness to make available land for the project and more.
Imo State Commissioner for Lands, Survey and Urban Development, Onuegbu, specifically described the programme as one that signals “a very positive change to what we have and I thank Igboebinie because this is a different strategy to Igbo development than going into the bush and shooting ourselves.”
He reiterated the call on Ndigbo all over the globe to come home and develop Igboland with the same entrepreneurial zeal and vigor they are using outside the region.
Tailored to create smart cities rated to international standard, the development of conducive environment for trade and commerce, industrialization, investment opportunities and provision of adequate homes befitting our people from all walks of life, the project is also strategically positioned to attract investment, drive economic growth and establish the region as a hub of commerce and industry and would create an estimated 3,000,000 job opportunities.
The Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of Hand of God Construction Company Limited, Pastor David Emeka Nwachukwu, in his welcome address, said the “era-defining project,” marks the beginning of massive economic development of Igboland and unlimited employment generation in the South East zone.
“Igboebinie is designed to turn Igboland into the “Japan of Africa,’’ an industrial hub, in less than 10 years’ time. Let us all turn Igboland into an Industrial Jewel of Africa. God created us in the likeness of His own image and gave us the Holy Charge to go and dominate the earth by multiplying our talents, bringing down His Kingdom on Earth and doing His Will on Earth as it is in Heaven. Igboebinie was formed and poised to achieve this Divine Mandate for Igboland, Nigeria, and Africa!
“Today’s event of signing the Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) between Igboebinie Plc and Hand of God Construction Company Ltd is both historic and a turning point in the development of Igboland and Nigeria. By this great partnership, elites, professionals and business people of Igbo extraction have demonstrated the ideologies of Igwebuike Power.”
The very ambitious project is estimated to cost a whooping 10 billion US dollars (N15 trillion). It will have 100,000 units, 30 high rising buildings and a World Trade Centre to be located in Anambra.
Further breakdown shows that Abia State will have a total of 10,000 units with 2 units of 15 floor high rising buildings; Anambra, 5,000 units with World Trade Centre; Ebonyi, 5,000 with 2 units of 15 floor high rising buildings; Enugu, 50,000 units with 20 units of 15 floor high rising buildings; Imo, 10,000 units with 2 units of 15 floor high rising buildings; Delta and Rivers states, same as Imo State.
Already, the developers have gotten for the project which will be located within the state capitals and city centres, lands as follows: Abia, 200 hectares of land in one location; Anambra, 120 hectares in one location; Ebonyi, 200 hectares in one location; Enugu, 400 hectares in three locations; Imo, 200 hectares in one location; 300 hectares in two locations and Rivers 200 hectares in two locations.
Credit: The Sun