Akwa Ibom Residents In Abuja Back Governor Eno’s Proposed Housing Estate In FCT

The housing project proposed by Akwa Ibom State Governor Umo Eno for the benefit of Akwa Ibom residents in Abuja has continued to receive accolades from stakeholders.

A trustee of the Akwa Ibom community in Abuja, Comrade Tommy Etim Okon (PhD), has applauded Governor Eno over the initiative, saying it is in line with the governor’s cardinal ethos of inclusive governance and his ARISE agenda.

Okon, who is also the Coordinator of ARISE for Renewed Hope Initiative in the FCT, a group that supports the re-election bids of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Senate President Goodwill Akpabio and Governor Eno, told journalists at the weekend that the planned housing estate by the Akwa Ibom State Government is a win-win for both Akwa Ibomites in the FCT, who will benefit directly from the initiative, and the state government, which will be getting a high rate of return on investment due to the lucrative nature of housing investment in the capital city.

Etim, a one-time President of the Akwa Ibom community in the FCT, revealed that the governor made the promise to acquire land and build a housing scheme when he personally attended a meeting of the community in the capital city.

He faulted the negligible few who have questioned the idea, saying they are being narrow-minded and not considering the overall impact of the housing initiative.

He said: “The governor wanted to ensure that Akwa Ibomites in the FCT benefit from the project in terms of job creation and for them to key into the project as a way to benefit from his inclusive governance model.”

He, however, explained that the houses were not meant as giveaways.

According to him, the gesture fits into Governor Eno’s ARISE agenda, his social contract with the people, part of which is that his governance programmes reach all Akwa Ibomites, no matter their geographical locations.

“So his housing scheme initiative in the FCT is a well-thought-out initiative which is in line with the ARISE/Renewed Hope Agenda,” he said, adding that he also coordinates a group championing the re-election bids of President Tinubu, Senate President Goodwill Akpabio and Governor Umo Eno.

Dr Etim Okon disagreed with the position expressed by one Ms Mfon Umana, a diaspora Akwa Ibomite who had faulted the housing scheme on the basis that the taxes on the scheme would boost Abuja’s coffers rather than Akwa Ibom’s.

He said, “It is unfortunate that in this 21st Century a diasporan, whom people would have thought would give support to the governor’s initiative, is now the one who feels it is a white elephant project. In her write-up she acknowledged that what the governor had in mind was a thoughtful project. It was ironical that she later said such a project was not in the best interest of the state; that such a venture should be done in Akwa Ibom State.

“To us, we feel she was not fair in criticising the social contract embedded in the ARISE document. Coming from somebody we hold in high esteem, it is unfortunate,” adding that she may not have understood the housing scheme initiative very well.

Etim Okon pointed out that if even foreigners invest in the FCT, what is wrong with a Nigerian doing the same?

“Akwa Ibom State is a part of Nigeria, so I do not think any state in Nigeria investing in the capital territory, Abuja, after due diligence to show it is a veritable place for investment, should jettison such an idea. Instead, we should encourage such an idea. If you look at the rate of rent in Abuja vis-à-vis other cities, you can see that the return on housing investment is high. Those who invest in Dubai do so because the return on investment is high and they make their money, so for somebody to criticise Governor Eno for investing in Abuja is unfortunate.”

Speaking on the special advantages the scheme will confer on Akwa Ibomites in the FCT, Etim Okon recalled that it was Governor Victor Attah’s intervention that ensured that Akwa Ibom natives working in federal government agencies did not miss out on the monetisation programme and ensured they were able to secure housing accommodation in highbrow areas of the city.

He explained that Akwa Ibomites living and doing business in Abuja could access subvention from the government to own and live in decent areas of the capital city and gradually repay the facility.

End.