Asaba, capital of Delta State, and fondly known as "The Big Heart", has grown in leaps and bounds in the last 10 years with the coming of democracy, after several years of obnoxious rules by military juntas.

The city by the bank of River Niger, has shaken off its rural capital toga and is fast assuming a cosmopolitan outlook, thanks to the influx of people and corporate bodies like bees to honeycombs.

As it is with growth in population in any locality, there is pent-up demand for decent accommodations and other social amenities, and this explains why the crave for absolutely top quality apartments is apparently catching on with investors. The new trend in real estate development has spurred developers to build a complete new section of town.

Again, many thanks to the government, which has pumped lots of money into the hands of individuals and organisations, which in turn have invested such in this critical sector.

The trend to give the city a facelift was commenced by former Chief Executive of the state, Chief James Onanefe Ibori. The DDPA estates in Asaba and Jeddo, Commissioners and Legislators quarters, among others, are proofs of the unflagging commitment exhibited by his administration in this area.

His successor, Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan, seems to have followed in that stead. The state government is working towards ensuring that the problem of housing as witnessed in Abuja and Lagos does not happen in Asaba.

Housing Commissioner, Abraham Bobo, said government was poised to meet the housing needs of indigenes of the state, explaining that programmes on how government intends to ensure that housing needs of the people were solved are being implemented.

Statistics show that about 85 per cent of the urban population, especially in poor countries live in single rooms, often with eight to 12 persons per room, with the estimation that the total number of housing units in the country in 1992 was 25,661,000.

According to Bobo, Delta State is in a deficit of 400,000 units and the shortfall is what is driving the government to provide accommodations to meet the estimation.

He disclosed that though government could not provide all housing needs of the people, apart from developing low-cost housing estates, the state government is encouraging Public Private Partnership (PPP) in the housing sector and also creating enabling environment for individuals to build.

To him, Ibori deserves encomiums for his achievement in the housing sub-sector, stating that Uduaghan had consolidated on the efforts of his predecessor by completing some of the housing projects not completed before he took over reins of governance.

On why he was not highlighting what the Governor is doing in the housing sector, Bobo said, "Action speaks louder than voice," and that, ''What Governor Uduaghan is doing in the housing sector is to be felt, seen and enjoyed by the people.''

Asked if Uduaghan's administration can surpass what the likes of former Military Governor of Bendel State, Brigadier Samuel Ogbemudia, former Governor of Lagos State, Chief J.A. Jakande, and former President Shehu Shagari did in the housing sector, Bobo stated that Uduaghan had been able to identify the housing needs of the people, this, he stressed, is a good evidence that solution to the housing needs in sight.

While Brigadier Ogbemudia initiated studies on housing problems, set up housing institutions and developed housing estates for low and medium income earners in all local government headquarters in the defunct Bendel State, Chief Jakande was famous for land reclamation, slum decongestion and development of low-income estates across the "Centre of Excellence".

On his part, former President Shagari built 1,000 low-cost housing units in each of the state capitals during his tenure between 1979 and 1983, but his lofty housing programme was aborted when the military junta ousted him in a coup.

Bobo said the government would adopt short and long term measures to address the 400,000 housing deficit, noting that while the short-term involves completion of all ongoing housing projects, the government in conjunction with the private sector through Public Private Partnership would deliver not fewer than 20,000 housing units in the next two years, adding that about 14 organisations were engaged in the PPP arrangement.

Many in the sub-sector have applauded the marriage between government and the private sector, given that in Nigeria over 97 per cent of housing are funded by individuals and real estate organisations, about 10 per cent by public authorities and three per cent by mortgage institutions, while less than one per cent is financed by banks.

Even though many Deltans have contributed to the National Housing Fund, which is compulsory for every civil servant, only a handful has really benefited from it, thereby casting doubt on that policy to meet the housing needs of contributors.

Since he mounted the saddle of governance, Uduaghan has granted soft loans running into hundreds of millions to civil servants to enable them build and own their houses, and low and medium-income estates are also being built in different parts of the state.

One aspect he has scored high mark is the completion of ongoing projects to ensure that ministries and parastatals were not housed in rented structures.

Works on the imposing new secretariat complex is almost complete, and this no doubt would provide a conducive environment for government's activities just as government has been applauded for working towards completing the state-of-the-art Government House complex, Asaba.

According to acting President of Asaba Development Union, Ogbueshi Emmanuel Ijeh, "government is doing so much in the area of housing, stating that government's policy on housing would ensure that people of the state are well sheltered."

He also commended the firm handling the project for the level of work being done at the new Government House complex, which, he noted, was seen as a white elephant project until the coming of the medical doctor-turned politician.

He also gave kudos to the Housing Commissioner for working assiduously towards achieving the Governor's vision in the housing sector.

Special Assistant to the President on National Assembly Matters, and Senate Liaison Officer, Dr. Cairo Ojougboh, also spoke in the same vein, heaping encomiums on the government for building what he described as a befitting Government House in Asaba, the capital.

Ojougboh, who ran against the Governor in the governordhip primaries, said Uduaghan had surpassed expectations in just two years on the executive seat, and called for all hands to be on deck to enable him deliver his campaign promises for the overall benefit of the people of the state.