Homeownership, job opportunities underway as Army plans N7.5bn estate

The plan by the Post-Service Housing Development Limited (PHDL), a real estate investment and development arm of the Nigeria Army to develop an estate that will deliver 221 housing units is holding out hope of home ownership and job opportunities for soldiers and civilians in the area.

The planned housing project estimated to cost N7.5 billion is a joint venture involving PHDL, the Otukpo Local Government Council and Betoniq West Nigerian Limited. It is to be sited in Otukpo LGA and will be financed through public and private partnership.

Mahe Bashir, managing director, PHDL, who gave these hints explained that approval for the joint venture project was given by the Chief of Army Staff, Yusuf Buratai because the housing estate would be for Nigerians.

Following the directive of the COAS, the 221 housing units will be made available to both military and civilian personnel at a ratio of 50-50 but mode of payment for the houses would be made known at a later date.

The estate promises modern facilities such as surface roads with asphalt cover, streetlights, water and other essential amenities.

Monday Morgan, a retired Air Vice Marshal and Chairman, Betoniq West Nigerian Limited, disclosed that the housing project would be completed in 24 months, noting that construction would start with the three and four bedroom bungalows, and later include the three and four bedroom duplexes and detached houses.

George Alli, Chairman of Otukpo Local Government Council, noted that the initiative would be the first of such magnitude outside the state capital.

He said apart from the subscription for homeownership in the estate being open to all Nigerians, the project would be of great benefit to the Idoma community as it would create thousands of job opportunities for their idle youths.

“It would reduce crime among youths. It would create wealth because internally generated revenue will increase and IGR will also increase for the Otukpo local government as well.

He commended the Nigerian Army and Betronic under the chairmanship of Morgan, who is a son of the soil, for choosing Otukpo as location for the project.