The leading APC governorship aspirant in the November 21, 2015 election in Kogi State Dr. Adinoyi Ojo Onukaba, has expressed concern over the poor and inadequate housing situation in the state.
Onukaba, in a statement by his campaign office (Onukaba Campaign Organisation) on Sunday, noted that Kogi State has a severe housing deficit. “Many of our people live in shacks and those who want to build or buy decent homes face many constraints. The people of Kogi cannot continue to live this way”, the aspirant declared.
He said Kogi’s proximity to the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) ought to have encouraged the state in terms of development had the past administrations been mindful of their responsibilities to the people in the richly-endowed state.
Onukaba said he will opt for the Abuja model in Kogi State when he becomes the governor of the state.
“It is my wish to redefine the concept of living in Kogi State. We will ensure that our people live in well planned and serviced communities and not the present haphazard, filthy abodes that we have right now in the state. We will create a conducive environment for quality residential and business estates to spring up,” he said.
“We will be very creative and innovative. My administration will encourage home ownership by creating ‘Site and Services’ layouts in each of the 21 Local Government Councils and several ones in Lokoja for people to build their houses according to specification,” he added.
“Unlike the chaotic situation at the moment in the state, a Geographic Information Service (GIS) will be properly activated to process land titles and ‘certificates of occupancy,”’ he added.
Onukaba, who is already thinking of a process to make such houses affordable to the people, promised to put in place a robust mortgage institution to fund individuals who want to build or buy their own homes.
He also has plans for industrial parks to service the already existing industries of Ajaokuta Steel Company and the Nigerian Iron Ore Mining Company, Itakpe as well as the proposed Greenfield Refinery at Eviya. The industrial parks, when fully executed, will create jobs and seriously boost the economy of the state, he said.
