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In an effort to
fast track the implementation of Cross River State Geographic
Information System (CRGIS), the state executive council at its meeting,
approved $1.7m (about N252 million) for the services of consultants for
the project.

Bassey Oqua, the
lands and housing development commissioner, said an American firm,
International Land System Incorporated, in partnership with Teq Bridge
Nigeria Limited, was chosen as the preferred bidder for the job, after
a technical and financial review of the four companies that applied for
the job.

Mr. Oqua said that
GIS, when fully operational, will address all challenges arising from
land administration and management, pointing out that the ratification
is the component of the phase II of the implementation process, which
started with the inauguration of a steering committee headed by the
state governor, Liyel Imoke.

The committee’s
assignment is to quicken the process and thus meet contractual
agreements on delivery of certificate of occupancy in six months.

Housing too

On the expansion of
the Urban Street light project to Federal Housing Estate and State
Housing Estates and Calabar south local government area to enhance the
aesthetics and security of Calabar, the state capital, Bassey Ekefre,
the commissioner for works, disclosed that N2.7 billion has also been
approved by the council in favour of Lileker Nigeria Limited to effect
the installation, with a three and half years moratorium at N64, 000
monthly payment.

Mr. Ekefre added
that the contractor has already been mobilised to site, as work is
expected to commence soon, adding that with a new power plant at New
Secretariat to power the street lights which were hitherto fed from
Tinapa power plant, there is a guarantee of uninterrupted power supply
to the streets.

Rosemary Achonwa,
the special adviser, mortgage finance, said that the state, in its
quest to provide affordable houses to the citizenry, secured N1.5
billion from the Federal Government to boost the development
process,while Cross River State Property and Investment Ltd. (CROSPIL)
is working on a modality to disburse the fund for development.

Ms Achonwa said the
state government, in addition to the Akpabuyo Housing Estate which
physical work commences next month, has acquired 40 hectares of land at
Odukpani to further expand the development, stressing that with the
recent enactment of the Public Private Partnership (PPP) Law 2010 by
the state, government is obliged to define accurately a housing
delivery standard for Cross River citizens.