Imo Assembly moves for inclusion of Imo in Fed Housing Scheme

By Christiana Nnaemeka

The Imo State House of Assembly has urged the State Commissioner for Housing and Urban Development to immediately engage relevant federal agencies to ensure Imo’s full inclusion and participation in all ongoing and future Federal Government housing programmes.

The directive followed a motion sponsored by the lawmaker representing Nkwerre Constituency, Hon. Nze Chisom Ojukwu, on Tuesday and co-sponsored by 14 other legislators.

As part of the resolution, the House also summoned the Commissioner for Housing and Urban Development to appear before it for an interactive session.

The Commissioner is to explain the reasons behind Imo State’s limited access to federal housing benefits and to present concrete plans to reverse the trend.

In his lead debate, Hon. Ojukwu listed the affected schemes to include the National Housing Programme (NHP), National Social Housing Programme under the Economic Sustainability Plan, Family Homes Fund, Renewed Hope Cities and Estates Initiative, and Federal Mortgage Bank Cooperative Housing Schemes—all designed to promote affordable home ownership for low and middle-income earners.

He expressed concern that while states such as Lagos, Ogun, Kaduna, and the Federal Capital Territory have significantly benefited from these interventions, the South-East—particularly Imo State—has received less than eight percent of the total allocations.

The lawmaker attributed the shortfall to poor coordination between the State Ministry of Housing and relevant federal agencies, the absence of a functional liaison structure, and inadequate public sensitization about available housing opportunities.

Ojukwu lamented that this neglect has deprived many Imo citizens—especially civil servants, artisans, and cooperative societies—of access to affordable housing loans, mortgages, and allocations available to their counterparts in other regions. He expressed optimism that the Assembly’s resolution would help unlock new housing opportunities, stimulate local economic activities, and improve social welfare across the state.

The House further directed the Commissioner to establish within the Ministry a Federal Housing Liaison and Access Desk to coordinate and facilitate the participation of Imo citizens in various federal housing initiatives, as well as embark on widespread public sensitization.

Additionally, the Commissioner is expected to submit a comprehensive report within two weeks detailing all available federal housing schemes, the extent of Imo’s participation, challenges identified, and measures being adopted to ensure greater inclusion moving forward.