GOVERNMENT HOUSE WATCH

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GOVERNMENT HOUSE WATCH

Working to shelter Deltans

BY FIDELIS EGUGBO

DELTA State government has put in place a 17-member Council on Housing to review past efforts of government at providing adequate housing.  To show the importance attached to the innauguration ceremony, while most Nigerians were enjoying their recent muslim holidays, the state’s Deputy Governor, Prof. Amos Utuama (SAN), cut short his holiday to innaugurate the council on Monday, December 8, 2008.
Innaugurating the Council in his office in Asaba, Prof. Utuama (SAN), emphasised that apart from reviewing past efforts of government at providing adequate housing, the council would also, define a direction that will key into the state government’s vision 2020 plan for the sector.
The innauguation ceremony was of great significance as Prof. Utuama observed that it was the first Council on Housing to be established since the creation of the state in 1991 and 36 years after its counterpart at the federal level was established. He emphasised that the innauguration of the council was a step by Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan’s administration to solve housinig problems in the state as part of his infrastructure development agenda of the state.
For a long time, the people of Delta State, especially, residents of Asaba and its adjoining towns and villages have been facing serious accomodation problem to the extent that house rent is reaching record high, as a result of many people seeking for the limited accomodations available.
Many have been looking up to government to profer solution to the housing problem.  During the administration of Governor James Ibori, the Delta Development and Property Authority (DDPA) built some houses which were sold to the public. But the prices of such houses were such that they were not for the common man or the civil servant.
Certainly, the Council on Housing is going to face daunting challenges to proffer solutions to the housing problem which is a basic necessity for man. As Prof. Utuama said at the occasion, the main function of the council is to guide government in policy formulation, implementation and monitoring, especially by broadening the base of housing data collection and feedback.
He noted that the task before the council was very important as it would assist the government to achieve its long-term objective of ensuring easy access to affordable housing for all Deltans, irrespective of their social class. 
This buttressed the fact that the state government was sensitive to the plight of the people and is working towards addressing it.
“The 17-member Council which is the highest organ of government on housing in the state, will act as the clearing house for all major government policies and programmes in the housing,” he said. 
If members of the council were of the view that government would be blamed if it fails in its housing policy, then, they were wrong as the Deputy Governor did not mince words when he said, “a failure of government in this (housing) sector will reflect a failure of the council in giving government proper ruidance on its housing matters.”
The calibre of people that make up the council gives credence to the fact that the state government was determined to ensure that the housing problems get solution.  Three members of the state executive council are members of the council; the Commissioner for Housing, Engr. Abraham Bobo who is the Chairman of the Council, his Environment counterpart, Mr Lawrence Osiegbu, and that of Ministry of Lands, Survey and Urban Development, Barrister Raymos Guanah.
Other members of the council which has Dr J.J. Oritsejiafor as Secretary include Mr Andy Omokri, Arc. V.O. Enegbede, TPL W.O. Riebele, Arc. A. J. Ogeh, Sir P. J. Effam, Engr. A.O. Onoyokoko, Bldr. Eugene Eze, Prof. S.O. Izomoh, Sir Andy Umunadi, Engr. E. E. Bakpa, Arc. Abel Onomake and Mr Fortune Ebie.  These are tested people who have track records of success in their chosen fields and most of them are representatives of professional bodies that have a lot to do in the housing sector.
There is no doubt that these people would like to do their best for the housing sector in the state.  But it is a fact that a great facilitator to quick service-delivery is finance.  Members of the council may have the motivation based on the recognition given to them but will the finance be readily available for them to deliver?
The chairman of the Council, Engr. Bobo summed it all when he appealed to the state government to make funds available for the council to carry out its duties.  He also, observed that members of the council were member of credible character that would carry out their functions diligently.
Responding on behalf of members of the Council, the Commissioner for Housing in the state, Engr. Abraham Bobo thanked the state government for appointing people of credible character as members of the council.
The Council would be seen to have performed well if before the tenure of Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan/Prof. Amos Utuama (SAN), the housing problem facing the people of the state, especially, those living in Asaba and Warri is addressed. 
The council, based on its constitution might not only profer solutions to the housing problems facing the people of the state but may advise on planning workable cities and towns in the state.
Though, the constitution of the Council is coming a bit late based on what they stand to achieve, the saying that it is better late than never comes to mind.  I believe that the success of the Council in ensuring good housing policy would spur other states of the country to establish same.
In all, the Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan’s administration deserves kudos for its all-embracing programmes, and bearing in mind the importance of housing to the Millenium Development Goals, the Vision 2020, the time really to act is now.  I am confident that fund would not be a problem to the council and its suggestions would be for the interest of the government and people of the state.  Also, the pace with which the Asaba Airport project is being executed with the contractor assuring at all times that Government was always making funds available buttresses the point that fund would not be a problem in ensuring that the people of the state are well sheltered in the nearest future.

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