ASABA/Nigeria: A private real estate developer has proposed the construction of 2,000 affordable housing units in Delta State as part of a multi-billion-naira investment expected to expand home ownership opportunities and create thousands of jobs.
The proposed development, which targets civil servants as well as low- and middle-income earners, was presented to the Delta State Government during a meeting between officials of Hand of God Construction Company Limited and the Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Dr. Kingsley Emu, in Asaba.
If approved, the company said the housing scheme would be delivered within 24 months and could generate about 34,000 direct and indirect jobs while contributing to the state’s Internally Generated Revenue (IGR).
Presenting the proposal, the Managing Director of Hand of God Construction Company Limited, Engr. David Nwachukwu, said the project would be financed through long-term mortgage facilities in collaboration with the Federal Mortgage Bank of Nigeria (FMBN) and other housing finance institutions.
He said the initiative was designed to make home ownership more accessible by providing quality but affordable housing to workers and other eligible residents through structured mortgage financing.
Nwachukwu explained that the company had executed similar housing projects in partnership with the Federal Mortgage Bank of Nigeria and other mortgage institutions in different parts of the country and was seeking to extend the model to Delta State.
According to him, the proposed estate would include supporting infrastructure, commercial facilities and other amenities to enhance the surrounding communities while maintaining affordability for prospective homeowners.
The developer, who is also the National Vice President of the Real Estate Developers Association of Nigeria (REDAN), said the company was engaging the Delta State Government to secure the statutory approvals required before construction begins.
He added that work would commence immediately after land allocation and other approvals, with a groundbreaking ceremony expected within weeks and the first phase of the project projected for completion within 12 months.
Nwachukwu further stated that the investment proposal does not seek free land from the state government, describing it as a commercial partnership that would also provide financial returns to the state.
Responding, the Secretary to the State Government, Dr. Kingsley Emu, said the Oborevwori administration remained open to partnerships with credible private investors to address housing needs and other critical infrastructure deficits.
He noted that government alone could not provide all the infrastructure required by the state’s growing population, stressing that private sector participation remains essential to sustainable development.
Emu said the state would continue to support policies that encourage responsible investment but maintained that only genuine proposals capable of delivering measurable economic benefits would receive government backing.
He also warned against land speculation and land grabbing, emphasizing that investments must align with the state’s development priorities.
The SSG encouraged investors to explore opportunities in Delta State and said the forthcoming Delta State Economic and Investment Summit would provide another platform for engaging potential local and international investors.
The meeting formed part of ongoing engagements between the Delta State Government and private sector operators aimed at expanding investment in housing and other key sectors of the state’s economy.
