By Ella Anokam
Owerri – The Minister of State for Power, Works and Housing, Mustapha Shehuri has pleaded with the Imo Government to resolve the ongoing litigation over the land allocated for the National Housing Project in the state.
The Minister made the plea during a courtesy visit on the governor at the Government House Annex in Owerri, where he was received by the Secretary to the State Government, Sir Echi George on Wednesday.
He appreciated the support of Imo Government for providing the land for the project but noted that the project would not proceed to its second stage unless the litigation was resolved.
According to him, this laudable initiative of the Federal Government is currently in jeopardy.
“The Federal University of Technology, Owerri, has taken the Federal Ministry of Power, Works and Housing to court claiming ownership of the said land.”
He added that the Federal Government was determined to bridge the national housing gap, which was estimated at 17 million.
“The Federal Mortgage Bank of Nigeria and the Federal Housing Authority have been repositioned to adequately response to the challenges facing the built industry”, he said.
Responding, Echi expressed the determination of the state government to help in resolving the litigation to enable the project progress.
“We will resolve the problem immediately and the litigation should not deter the Federal Government from bringing development to Imo’.
News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that a total of 68 houses are presently under construction in Avu community, Owerri West Local Government Area of Imo.
They comprised of 16 units of three-bedroom flats, 28 two-bedroom and a three-storey condominium block of four units of one bedroom, 16 of two-bedroom and four of three-bedroom. (NAN)