The Managing Director of Anambra State Housing Development Corporation, (ASHDC), Chief Chike Anyaonu has decried what he described as state of abandonment he met at the corporation when he took over the management two years ago.
He said he has been battling to ensure that the establishment lived up to its mandate.
Chief Anyaonu disclosed this in an interaction with members of the Correspondents’ Chapel of Nigeria Union Of Journalists (NUJ), Anambra State Council in Awka on Tuesday.
Anyaonu said that twenty of the twenty two estates which he inherited could help the Governor, or the government in improving, engaging and the delivery of Housing in the state.
He said one of the estates which housed the high and mighty in the state did not meet the standards. He explained that the contractor could not make available the expected amenities but only disposed of all the plots of land to prospectors and went away.
The M/D said he set up a process to get things done the proper way at the corporation to correct anomalies that he discovered. He condemned the situation at Ngozika Housing Estate, phase II which he said that “Government used to scam our people”.
“The contractor of Rockland Development Ltd was given the estate to enter into and develop, take over all residential plots but provide infrastructure necessary for people to come and live there. None of these was done. People moved in and started developing the place on their own.
“Meanwhile, Rockland had gone ahead, sold all the plots, closed the books and handed over before I came.
“What is happening now is that people are developing the place on their own, without government coming to their aid, providing all those infrastructure Rockland ought to provide.
“As a result, we have not been going to that place to collect our fees because it would have been shameful. “
However, Anyaonu said he has secured the approval of the board to construct one kilometre Road in the Estate and put streetlights.
He said, that strictly speaking only two Housing Estates are working, namely: Udoka Housing Estate, Awka and another at Fegge Bridge Head.
However, he noted that the Corporation is not resting on its oars to deliver on its mandate as he has reorganised the corporation and put the right pegs in the right places.
Commending Chief Anyaonu for availing himself for the interaction which was held in the April meeting of Correspondents’Chapel, Chairman of the Chapel Chief Chuks Ilozue said that apart from the primary function of the press which is to inform, educate and entertain, it is the duty of the press to hold government accountable to the people.
He urged him to strive to turn things around in the corporation so as to etch his name in the annals of history.
Anyaonu was accompanied to the interaction by the Special Adviser to the Governor on Housing, Ernie Onwumere and the Public Relations Officer of the Corporation, Mrs Jane Okafor.
