By Otobong Nsekpong
One sector of the economy that has received attention from the government of Akwa Ibom State is the housing sector.
Shelter, being one of the necessity of man is given priority by the administration of Governor Umo Eno in the state.
Apart from some estates he inherited from the immediate past administration of Mr Udom Emmanuel like the Dakkada Luxury Home and the Grace Estate, the governor has continued with an unequal zeal the pursuit of decent and affordable homes for people of the state and investors coming to live and do business in the state.
He has a target of over 400 compassionate homes for widows and the most vulnerable in the society and has also flagged off Ewet Luxury Estate.
On Monday November 18,2024, he laid the foundation for the construction of aviation village located within the Obong Victor Attah International Airport.
In what could be described as an audacious move to fulfil his campaign promises, the Aviation Village is a residential quarters for airport workers.
According to the Commissioner for Housing, Otuekong Raphael Bassey, Aviation Village project sits on 15.072 hectares of land and would have a total of 62 number of two bedroom flats, 55 number of three bedroom flats, a primary school and other facilities.
Performing the ground- breaking ceremony of the project, the Governor said that the Aviation Village is aimed at driving home his passion towards expanding the aviation ecosystem and making Akwa Ibom stand out as the aviation hub in the Gulf of Guinea.
He said, “The Aviation village of which ground breaking ceremony we have gathered here to perform is a project that speaks to our passionate dedication to the expansion of the aviation ecosystem.
“It is going to provide residential quarters for workers in the first phase which will help further drive our vision to becoming the Nation’s major aviation hub.
“The second phase will have the aviation school and other facilities, but let’s provide these accomodations for the workers close to their offices. From our findings, twelve parastatals would benefit and this will have direct impact on the operations of the airport.”
Speaking further, the governor announced
plans to lay the foundation for an Elderly People’s Home and a new Medical Village for Doctors serving at the Ibom Specialist hospital, explaining that the aim is to prepare for the running of the Ibom Specialist hospital with foreign technical partners as originally-conceptualized.
In his words “There are some more flag offs that we will do. I am looking forward to flagging off the elderly people’s home. I am looking forward to flagging off the new medical village, and we will build the Doctors quarters there too.
Governor Eno added that the project which will be completed in twelve months will be given to different contractors to speed up the construction beginning with the perimeter fence and gate house.
Highpoint of the occasion was the ground-breaking ceremony which was performed by the Governor flanked by his Deputy Her Excellency, Dr Akon Eyakenyi, Speaker of the State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon, Udeme Otong, Secretary to the State Government, Prince Enobong Uwah, Traditional rulers and some top government officials.
