City Crest Estates to spread across Akwa Ibom, other states
… as number of estates increases to four
By Benjamin Jimmy
City Crest Estates, a certified company in land acquisition, development and management, has said that it is looking forward to having more of its estate spread across Akwa Ibom State and beyond in the next few years, in addition to its four estates that are currently being developed with facilities befitting of them.
The Managing Director of City Crest Estates, Barr. Ido Aniekan Udofia, disclosed this over the weekend in Uyo, in an interview with newsmen at the end of the meeting with the Mbiokporo one estate subscribers.
The Managing Director revealed that City Crest Estates was looking beyond just estate development to broadening its spectrum by instituting a new building strategy where houses of different designs for different income earners would be built and sold out to interested members of the public who are willing to own houses.
In her keynote address, Barr. Ido Udofia, who noted that the company has made a lot of strides since it started estate operations in 2016, with Mbiokporo one Estate as the first, said three other estates know as Le Meridien two, Ibiaku Issiet three, and Airport Road four are being developed with adequate expertise in place to turn tenants into house owners.
The company Managing Director also mentioned that in the six years existence of the City Crest Estates, soft loans had been given to some indigent people living in Mbiokporo to help alleviate poverty and other humanitarian gestures which, she noted, was part of the company’s contributions to community development service.
Barr. Udofia, who stated that the company was determined to act on feedbacks from subscribers as being the essence of the one-day meeting, however pointed out that one of the challenges that impinged on the delay in the development of the various plots of land at the estate was the fear of someone not wanting to be the first to start.
She observed that although some subscribers were doing land banking – a practice of buying land and keeping it for children, the practice was not in their best interest, and therefore, advised them to start building.
The Managing Director reminded the subscribers of the advantages of owning a house at the estate which include; the presence of the military base and the headquarters of Jehovah’s Witnesses which she noted would provide security and also generate incomes to those who might provide accommodation to visitors to the area.
Giving a project report of Mbiokporo one, a member of staff of the company in charge of operations, Aniebiet Ekemini said the company had done so much to encourage subscribers develop their plot of land, urging them to start their building.
According to her, the company had graded roads within the estate, planted electricity poles, as well as drilled borehole to boost the confidence of the subscribers that City Crest Estates was committed to a speedy housing development project.
The Operations Manager therefore, urged subscribers to approach Uyo Capital City Development Authority (UCCDA) and the Ministry of Lands to get the necessary approvals for the ownward development of their land, as the company was desirous of seeing them own houses.
Also speaking, a management staff of the company, Mr. Aniekan Udofia said the meeting was to enable the company and subscribers chart a way forward for the speedy development of Mbiokporo one estate.
He however expressed dissatisfaction over the attitude of most subscribers who had abandoned their plot of land, appealing to them to return to their land and start up their building.
He said the company has competence in all aspects of building, with engineers, architects, plumbers, builders and others partnering to ensure that adequate expertise is employed in the development of the estate.
Mr. Udofia therefore, commended the subscribers and all the partners for trusting in the company, while expressing the hope that more partnership would continue.
Making a contribution to the meeting, Surv. Aniekan Eyo of the University of Uyo urged subscribers to develop their plot, recounting that there are benefits they will derive from doing so.
Making a presentation, Decade Home, a building partner with City Crest Estates, said it has built some houses for its clients in Uyo, calling on the subscribers to enlist the services of experts in their housing construction to avoid problems.
Another partner, Mr. Inyang, who stressed the importance of solar light, advised the subscribers to acquire it to save themselves from troubles.
The interactive session also featured presentations of letters of plot allotments to the Head of Operations, Aniebiet Ekemini, Prince Robert Akpan, the immediate past Youth Leader of Mbiokporo community and Emaeyak Dennis also an indigene of the area.
Appreciating City Crest Estates for giving her a plot of land at the estate, the Head of Operations, Aniebiet Ekemini said she was grateful for the gesture, pledging to continue to work hard for the growth of the company.
There was a raffle draw where one of the subscribers who was absent, Mrs. Comfort emerged as the winner.
