• Thursday, March 28, 2024
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Housing reforms: EDPA to revive red brick production factory

Homes

As part of efforts to boost housing development, the Edo State government has concluded plans to revive its Red Brick Production Factory operated by Edo Development and Property Agency (EDPA) in Benin City, the state capital.

Isoken Omo, executive chairman, EDPA, who disclosed this in an interview with journalists, said plans were ongoing to revive the factory to meet the need for alternatives in addressing the high cost of procuring the conventional or imported building materials.

“We discovered that the old EDPA had machines for red bricks, which have gone moribund. We have gotten approval to bring the factory back to life,” she noted.

She said the factory would be located at Ugbiyokho axis of Ekehuan Road, for the production of red bricks and interlocking bricks for internal and external use, adding, “We have contacted engineers to assess the old brick machines and they said the machines are still okay. We will buy two additional machines to meet the market demand for the products. We already have interested buyers who have approached us and want us to revive the brick factory.”

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She said the construction of the factory would commence as soon as the designs were ready, noting, “Land preparation has commenced. The land has been fenced and we have sent the plan for the factory to engineers for the designs. Once the designs are ready, the construction work will start at the site. The bricks will also be used in some of our housing projects.”
Meanwhile, the state government has assessed the impact of flooding in different parts of Benin City and has concluded plans to provide relief materials for hardest-hit communities after the heavy rainfall on Monday.
At the assessment tour, Yakubu Gowon, special adviser to the governor on special duties, said the state government would assist the victims with relief materials while measures were being put in place to control flooding in the future.
He said, “The first form of relief for these victims is to empathise with them. We are here to do that, to see where the pain itches the most. We are assessing the extent of damage caused by the floods and are making arrangement to have relief items provided to the hardest-hit communities and victims.”
He decried that the flooding at the Ugbor area in the city was caused by a building erected on the natural flow path of the drains, urging residents to seek approval from the appropriate authority before they construct buildings.
Omua Oni-Okpaku, the commissioner for environment and sustainability, said a permanent solution was being worked out to control flooding challenges in the state. She said the drains in Erediauwa area would be de-silted while the water would be channelled to the moat in the area, as a permanent solution would be provided soon.
The commissioner tasked residents on proper waste disposal, regular clearing of drains and adjusting to new behaviours to mitigate climate change, noting, “Sensitisation is ongoing against the indiscriminate building and on improper waste disposal. We want to revive neighbourhood watch through which traditional rulers will help check against indiscriminate building in their area of jurisdiction.”
The affected areas visited by the state government officials include the Bonisk Crescent and Sam Excellent Atitiekae Avenue at Ugbor, GRA, and Erediauwa Road, off Benin-Sapele Road.