By  Vincent Ujumadu

AWKA—A NEW housing scheme, the Hydraform Building System, said to be capable of achieving 40% reduction in the price of a house, has been launched in Anambra State, with Governor Peter Obi saying that the system would be used in the massive rehabilitation of dilapidated secondary and primary schools, and health institutions in the state.

The system, which was imported from South Africa , uses only five percent cement and does not require plastering and painting, while the technology is said to be easy to learn. Raw materials for the system are also readily available in the state.

Already, 48 professionals in the building industry and other artisans have been trained in the art of moulding the bricks and the application of the technology.

Governor Obi, who launched an office block built with the Hydraform System and the 20 machines for the block making in Awka yesterday, said that the coming of the new system in the state was fallout of his visit to South Africa in 2006 and 2008, during which he discussed with officials of the company to bring the technology to Anambra State.