The Federal Government has handed over 116 housing units purchased by the Benue State Government for civil servants and other low-income earners as part of efforts by Governor Hyacinth Alia to address rising house rents and reduce the housing deficit.

The Minister of Housing and Urban Development, Muttaqha Darma, who was represented by the Director of Public Building and Housing Development, Femi Temitope, commended Governor Alia for his infrastructural and social development projects to improve the living standards of residents.

“This ceremony is the formal handing over of one hundred and sixteen housing units at the national housing programme to the Benue State Government. The efforts of Governor Hyacinth Alia in advancing infrastructure, promoting social development, and improving the living standards of citizens demonstrate a clear recognition of the growth of Benue State,” Temitope said.

After the official handing over by the Federal Government, the Acting Head of Civil Service of Benue State, Eunice Ogbenyi-Ihu, who sat in for Governor Alia, said the project, which was initially for the National Housing Programme, was acquired by Benue Investment Property Company (BIPC) for civil servants in Benue State by Governor Alia.

“We thank Governor Hyacinth Alia for acquiring the housing estate for the benefit of civil servants, as this underscores the administration’s commitment to workers’ welfare while also addressing the housing deficit in Benue, but most importantly, for the approval by Governor Hyacinth Alia to immortalise the immediate past head of service, Dr Moses Agbogbo Odeh, who died in active service, by naming the estate after him,” said Ogbenyi-Ihu.

The delegation then led the state officials to the estate located along Welfare-Mobile Barracks road for physical handover, where the group managing director of Benue Investment Property Company, Mr Raymond Asemakaha, who is managing the process, said the government would provide low-income earners the opportunity to own a home at the estate, just as the Eco City projects, which consist of four-bedroom duplexes, will serve those who can afford it.

“This acquisition will help bridge the gap between low-income earners and those who can afford the ongoing four-bedroom duplexes at our Eco City Estate, depending on your income,” he said.

Ogbenyi-Ihu said, “The state purchased the one hundred and sixteen housing units to make housing affordable for low-income earners, and the allocation will be transparent, while those who want the rent-to-own options can apply.”

The allocation process includes rent-to-own for civil servants with a direct purchase option to enable those with a housing crisis within the state civil services to own a home in the state capital.