A Primary Mortgage Institution (PMI) has sealed a N1.7 billion deal with the Cross River State government for the construction of 610 housing units at the Akpabuyo Civil and Public Housing Estate.

Governor Liyel Imoke said, in a statement, that the tripartite agreement involving Cross River, Aso Savings & Loan Plc and Aso Investment and Development Company, is a first step towards providing affordable houses to civil servants in the state who, according to him, are the engine room of the state government.

He said the project is one way by which the state government intends to ensure a sustainable way of provision of affordable houses for the civil servants and promised to ensure that standards are not compromised during construction.

The governor assured parties to the agreement of his administration’s readiness to support them by ensuring that all contractors working on infrastructure deliver on schedule to allow for immediate commencement of actual building construction.

He also expressed readiness to partner with the PMI and other private organisations for the development of other projects in the state, including the Calabar Central Market.

Managing Director of the mortgage firm, Mr. Hassan Usman, said the company is committed to ensuring that the 610 housing units are completed within the stipulated period.

Earlier, the Special Adviser to the Governor on Mortgage Finance, Mrs. Rosemary Achonwa, had said that the government was pleased to partner with a competent developer to implement the housing arm of the project after spending huge sums on infrastructure.