The Enugu State Government has approved the construction of 19,000 housing units across two major residential developments as part of efforts to reduce the state’s housing deficit and make homes more affordable.
The approval was announced by Ben Okoh, the state Commissioner for Works and Infrastructure, after the State Executive Council meeting held on Sunday, according to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN).
The housing projects formed part of a broader package of approvals covering road construction, flood control, public infrastructure upgrades and tourism development.
According to Okoh, the government approved the development of 1,000 housing units within the New Enugu City project and 18,000 mass housing units at Gateway Estate.
The New Enugu City development will feature four-bedroom and five-bedroom homes, while the larger Gateway Estate is designed to provide affordable housing on a much larger scale.
“The Enugu State Government has approved the construction of 19,000 housing units aimed at addressing the housing deficit and reducing the cost of housing in the state,” Okoh said.
He added that Gateway Estate will be delivered as a fully serviced community with supporting infrastructure, including roads, water supply and electricity.
Approval for the 1,000-unit New Enugu City project followed the completion of the first phase of the city’s 6.5-kilometre dual carriageway and ongoing internal road construction.
Beyond housing, the Executive Council approved several key infrastructure projects aimed at improving transportation, public services and flood management across the state.
Among them is the immediate construction of the 10.5-kilometre Igogoro–Amachara–Ikpamodo–Okpo-Amaada Road.
The council also approved flood control measures in Nsukka, including drainage rehabilitation, construction of adjoining streets and the clearing of blocked drains in flood-prone areas.
To strengthen maintenance capacity, the state will procure more than 30 pieces of light equipment for the Ministry of Works to support emergency repairs, routine maintenance and direct labour projects.
The Executive Council further approved the completion and upgrade of Wings C and D of the Enugu State Secretariat Complex, alongside the rehabilitation of Wings A and B.
In the tourism sector, approvals were granted for the Ovu Lake Golf Resort, the Akwuke and Attakwu tourism projects, and the 5.32-kilometre Okpatu–Awhum Cable Car Project, as part of efforts to position Enugu as a major tourism destination.
These projects build on the state’s tourism development strategy, which includes plans for Nigeria’s longest canopy walkway at the Nsude Pyramid site, a zipline at Ngwo Pine Forest, and expanded visitor facilities at Awhum Waterfall.
Enugu’s latest housing initiative comes as Nigeria grapples with an estimated 17 million-unit housing deficit, driven by rapid urbanisation, population growth, rising construction costs and limited access to affordable mortgage financing.
Federal and state governments have increasingly turned to large-scale housing schemes and public-private partnerships to boost housing supply.
The Federal Government is currently implementing the Renewed Hope Housing Programme, while also reviewing a proposal by China Hyway Group Limited to build 10,000 prefabricated housing units nationwide within 30 months.
Recent federal housing initiatives also include the handover of completed homes under the National Housing Programme and rent-to-own housing schemes facilitated by the Federal Mortgage Bank of Nigeria (FMBN).
Although Enugu’s planned 19,000-home development represents one of the state’s largest housing initiatives in recent years, it also highlights the scale of investment required to close Nigeria’s significant housing gap.
