In light of the ongoing construction of 70 units of two-bedroom semi-detached bungalows on Tinapa Road, Adiabo, the Cross River State Ministry of Housing has hosted a Monitoring and Evaluation team from the Federal Ministry of Budget and Planning.
The team was received at the Ministry's Conference Hall by Commissioner for Housing, Dr. Beatrice Ifeanyi Igwe, alongside representatives from Family Homes Funds Limited, the implementation agency; the National Agency for Science and Engineering Infrastructure (NASENI), the contracted builders; and other key stakeholders in the housing sector.
Dr. Igwe commended Governor Bassey Otu's initiative, which aims to provide affordable housing for residents of Cross River State.
She emphasized that through the governor’s “people first” mantra, the Ministry is seizing every opportunity to collaborate with significant players in the sector to ensure the successful realization of this project, which targets vulnerable groups, including the indigent and widows.
She highlighted that the State Government has been a steadfast ally, facilitating land acquisition for the housing project without encumbrances.
Assuring the visiting team of the project’s success, Dr. Igwe suggested that similar projects be implemented across the three senatorial districts in the state. This approach, she noted, would help fulfill President Buhari's renewed hope agenda and extend support to vulnerable populations and widows in rural areas.
Kerry Ebwana, Project Implementation Director, explained that the purpose of the evaluation team's visit is to monitor and assess the ongoing construction of housing developments nationwide, as part of the National Poverty Growth and Strategy initiative.
Mary Effiong Iwang, team lead for Monitoring and Evaluation, reiterated that it is part of the Federal Ministry of Budget and Planning’s mandate to oversee the performance of all federal government-implemented programs, including the affordable housing project in Cross River State.
Roland Okon, a member of the monitoring team, commended the collaborative efforts of the Honourable Commissioner and stakeholders, praising their strong partnership with Family Homes Funds. He encouraged continued support to ensure Cross River State is included in the expansion of these housing programs.
The event culminated with a site visit led by the Honourable Commissioner and housing stakeholders, allowing the monitoring team to assess the progress firsthand.
