Umahi commends FMC Abakaliki Cooperative Society over housing programme

Gov. Dave Umahi of Ebonyi has commended the housing development project embarked upon by the Federal Medical Centre Staff Cooperative Thrift and Loans Society (FMC-SCTLS) Ltd. of the Federal Teaching Hospital, Abakaliki.

Umahi spoke on Wednesday at the official foundation laying ceremony of the mass housing estate, located at Unagboke village, in Inyimagu Community, Abakaliki Local Government Area of Ebonyi.

The governor, who was represented by the State Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Mr Augustine Nwankwoegu, pledged government’s support for the housing scheme.

Umahi described shelter as one of man’s major basic needs and noted that the state government would support the society to complete the project on schedule.

According to the governor, the mass housing scheme embarked upon by the society will complement the efforts of his administration in providing critical infrastructure to the state.

He added that the 120-housing unit project, when completed, would address accommodation problem in Abakaliki and make residential houses more affordable.

The governor also commended the management of the cooperative society for prudent management of funds, which contributed to the development of the project.

“We applaud this noble initiative being embarked upon by the staff cooperative society of the teaching hospital.

“Housing is a critical infrastructure and one of man’s major basic needs; and we have no doubt that the estate when completed will address the problem of affordable accommodation for members and residents of the capital city.

“We will do everything necessary to ensure that we support and encourage the timely completion of the project.

“We shall ensure that critical amenities such as access road, potable water and electricity are extended to the estate,’’ Umahi said.

Earlier, the President of the FMC-SCTLS, Dr Ndon Abia, said that the society embarked on the high density mass housing estate in order to ameliorate the housing needs of its members.

He added that the housing project was also aimed at complementing the efforts of the Ebonyi Government in the provision of mass housing for its citizens.

Abia solicited the support of the state government in the provision of basic infrastructure to the estate, including access roads, electricity, potable water, among others.

He said that the estate named “Engr. Dave Umahi Cooperative Estate’’, was designed to consist of two, three and four bedrooms fully detached bungalows and five bedrooms detached duplexes.

Abia said that the estate would be provided with common facilities, including playground, nursery and primary schools as well Police post and minimarts.

“We conceived the project primarily to address the housing needs of members and to also complement the efforts of the Ebonyi Government in the provision of accommodation for its citizens.

“We are soliciting for the support of the state government to provide basic infrastructure such as access road to the estate, potable water, electricity, among others.

“The estate when completed, will house over 300 residents of the city,’’ Abia said.

It was reported that the 120 plots of land acquired in 2008 is entirely private-driven.