By PAMELA EBOH, Awka

In its effort to ease recent hike in accommodation rent in Anambra, the state government under the leadership of Prof Chukwuma Soludo has announced a major housing initiative for civil servants and low-income households.

The initiative includes building of a 10,000 housing units at Isiagu in Awka South Local Government Area.

Disclosing this in Awka while appearing before the House Committee on Appropriation to defend his ministry’s 2026 budget, the Commissioner for Housing, Hon. Paully Onyeka, said that the project, which will be executed through a Public–Private Partnership arrangement with real estate developers, is expected to take off during the dry season.

He explained that the earlier delays caused by last-minute disagreements between the government and its private partners have been fully resolved.

According to him, Governor Soludo had long approved the housing scheme, describing it as a well-structured plan designed to expand access to decent and affordable accommodation for workers and low-income earners across the state.

Onyeka added: "The governor’s development philosophy, especially the push for extensive road construction, has opened up new estate locations in the hinterlands, making housing development more viable and accessible than in previous years.

"Although the Ministry of Housing is service-oriented, it plays a key technical role in several of the government’s infrastructure projects."

While noting that the ministry’s involvement will continue even when projects are domiciled under different agencies, he cited instances to include, the recent upgrade of Ekwueme Square, ongoing improvements at the Commissioners’ Quarters, and the construction of the new Trauma Centre at the Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University Teaching Hospital in Amaku, Awka,

The former lawmaker of the House of Assembly who represented Ekwusigo Constituency however, hailed the legislature for its thorough approach to budget scrutiny.

He further harped on the importance of ministries justifying their requests and demonstrating prudent management of public funds in line with the administration’s broader development goals.

Other ministries that graced the state Assembly complex for their 2026 budget defense include the Ministries of Agriculture and Environment.