Fubara highlights benefits of new housing development

Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara has officially handed over keys to the first beneficiaries of the Greater TAF City housing project, marking a strategic pivot in the state’s urban planning to decongest Port Harcourt and stimulate economic growth in new districts.

During the commissioning of the 1,000-unit Phase 1 at the Obirikwere-Airport Road site, Fubara articulated an ambitious infrastructure plan aimed at transitioning Rivers into a high-income state. A central pillar of the strategy, according to him, involved driving major housing projects away from the city centre to create new development corridors.

Fubara explained that the project, a partnership with TAF Africa Global Limited, is designed to ensure Rivers State is no longer viewed as a “one-city state.” He noted that the previous administration, through the Greater Port Harcourt City Development Authority, acquired the land specifically to move development outward, accommodate a growing population, and improve the quality of living.

Aligning the state’s efforts with the federal agenda, Fubara highlighted that the intervention complements President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s vision for the housing sector.

“We approached here a little over a year ago to allocate land for 1,000 housing units called the Renewed Hope Housing Estate. What we have done today is providing our first phase of our 20,000 units.Imagine when the Federal Government’s 1,000 will be coming in, and our remaining 19,000 is completed, there will be no housing problem in Rivers State anymore,” Fubara stated. “

The Governor emphasised the link between social security and public safety, suggesting that adequate housing is a critical tool in crime reduction.

“There won’t be people engaging in crime, because the major reason people get involved in crime is that they are looking for a way to survive and meet their basic needs in life.I can assure Rivers people that when it comes to the need for housing as an issue, we have taken it upon ourselves to make a different mark in this country,”  Fubara reasoned.

Reflecting on the hurdles faced during the project’s inception, the Governor revealed that the administration had to overcome significant legal and bureaucratic opposition. He recalled that the idea was conceived during a difficult period and faced more execution challenges than other developmental projects in the state.

“You won’t believe that when we started this project, we had over 90 lawsuits and people claiming that they owned the land and the government had not paid. However, we give God the glory that, one way or another, we were able to surmount these challenges. It wasn’t just a challenge, it was a deliberate measure to frustrate our idea; frustrate this vision for the protection of the lives of our people,” Fubara disclosed.

The Governor charged those allocated land in the area to commence development immediately to accelerate the site’s growth. He affirmed his administration’s continued support for TAF Africa Global to ensure the completion of the envisioned 20,000 housing units, which are designed primarily for middle-income earners.

The Managing Director of TAF Africa Global Limited, Mustapha Njie, welcomed the new homeowners and praised the Governor’s unwavering support.

He noted that exactly two years prior, Governor Fubara had performed the groundbreaking ceremony, setting the stage for what has become an award-winning development.

The Greater TAF City, situated on 1,000 hectares, is a master-planned, mixed-use community comprising affordable homes ranging from 2-bedroom bungalows to 4-bedroom duplexes. The city features comprehensive amenities, including independent power generation mixed with solar energy, water and sewage reticulation, paved roads, and extensive green spaces.

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Njie highlighted that the project’s success has already garnered international attention. “The project’s impact resonates beyond our borders because of the innovative Public-Private Partnership model pioneered here.

Last year in Zanzibar, the African Union for Housing Finance (AUHF) recognized this project as ‘The Most Innovative PPP in Affordable Housing in Africa’. They are a direct result of the enabling environment you created,”  Njie said.

He emphasised that the commissioning of the first 1,000 homes is merely the starting point of a larger legacy.

“This project stands as a testament to what is possible when the public and private sectors align with a singular purpose for the public good. Today, we commissioned the first one thousand homes built. But this is only the beginning. It is a foundation for thousands more homes, for thriving businesses, for families to flourish, and for a legacy of sustainable development,” Njie stated.