Ayade, Buratai Flag Off Army’s Housing Scheme

The Cross River State Gov
ernor, Prof Ben Ayade and the Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lt. Gen. Tukur Buratai, have jointly performed the ground breaking ceremony for the Nigerian Army 130-hectare Post Service Housing Scheme, tagged ‘Ayade Mega City,’ in Calabar.
In his remarks, Buratai said the project would not only help to address the housing need of both retired army personnel and the civil populace, but also mitigate the housing deficit in Nigeria.
He explained that the decision to site the project in Cross River State was informed by its serene atmosphere, despite pockets of security breaches therein, lately.
The COAS reiterated the Nigerian Army’s commitment to sustain the peace in Calabar, noting that the recently launched Exercise Crocodile Smile in Cross River State had helped to checkmate militancy in the area and other parts of the South-South region.
He solicited the support of the civil populace in the task of securing the nation, adding that security was a collective responsibility for the entire citizenry.
While presenting his address at the occasion, Ayade thanked the Nigerian Army for its recent contribution towards the restoration of peace in Cross River State.
He said the Army had always been there for the state whenever it was called upon, especially during the recent security challenges experienced in Calabar.
The governor advised the developers of the housing estate to take into cognisance the importance of nature in the course of building, saying. the focus of the design should be eco-friendly.
Earlier, in his welcome address, the Cross River Commissioner for New Cities Development, Barr. George Ekpungu, had said the investment was in line with the policy thrust of the Ayade led administration to develop mega cities across the state.
He said the New Cities Ministry was established in order to replicate the Federal Government’s template for the housing sector in Nigeria, with a view to building high quality and affordable houses for the citizenry.
“The governor of Cross River State in his visionary creation which has often been described ‘as dream it; do it,’ established this ministry because of his thought of the president’s vision for housing for Nigerians,” he said.

Friday Awagbara, Calabar