Umo Eno Gives Contractor Three Months to Complete ₦10.32bn Uyo Housing Estate
Ewet Luxury Garden Estate in Uyo
Akwa Ibom State Governor Umo Eno has given the contractor handling the Ewet Luxury Garden Estate in Uyo three months to complete the delayed housing project or risk termination of the contract.
The governor issued the ultimatum during an unscheduled inspection of the estate, expressing concern over the pace of construction after the project missed successive completion targets.
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Ewet Estate Misses Original Completion Date
The Ewet Luxury Garden Estate comprises 35 five-bedroom detached duplexes being developed on approximately 3.5 hectares of land in Uyo.
The development includes boys’ quarters, recreational areas, walkways, offices, parking facilities, a security house, a 100-capacity multipurpose hall and a central power system.
Construction began in July 2024 under an initial eight-month completion schedule. That timeline placed the expected delivery date around March 2025, but the estate was not completed within the agreed period.
The state government subsequently announced in April 2026 that the houses would be completed within two months. The contractor, Western Legacy Investment Limited, also committed to meeting the 60-day target. The project, however, remained unfinished after that deadline.
Governor Sets Three-Month Delivery Target
Following the latest inspection, Governor Eno directed the Commissioner for Special Duties, Emem Bob, to ensure that 12 buildings are completed and handed over every month, beginning in September.
The governor warned that the state could terminate the contract if the contractor fails to meet the new delivery requirements.
The latest directive effectively creates another deadline for a project that is already more than a year behind its original completion schedule.
For the state government, meeting the new target will depend on whether the contractor can significantly increase the pace of construction and whether outstanding infrastructure and supporting facilities can progress alongside the buildings.
Project Receives ₦10.32bn in Budgetary Provisions
A review of Akwa Ibom State's publicly available budget documents shows that the project received combined budgetary provisions of ₦10.32 billion across 2025 and 2026.
The 2025 budget allocated ₦4.434 billion for internal roads and external works, while another ₦5 billion was provided for apartments, commercial offices and a luxury park.
The 2026 budget included a further ₦886.18 million provision for the project.
However, the reported ₦10.32 billion represents budgetary provisions, not necessarily funds already released or paid to the contractor. Publicly available information does not fully clarify actual disbursements, the final contract value or the complete procurement records.
This distinction is important when assessing the financial position and delivery performance of the development.
Estate Designed as a Commercial Development
Unlike subsidised government housing schemes targeted at lower-income households, the Ewet Luxury Garden Estate was conceived as a commercial real estate investment.
The homes are intended for outright sale, positioning the project within Uyo's private and high-end residential property market rather than as a conventional affordable housing programme.
The development therefore has implications beyond the delivery of individual housing units. Its completion could add a planned residential development with dedicated infrastructure and supporting amenities to Uyo's property market.
However, delays in delivering the project can affect construction timelines, investor expectations and the availability of completed housing stock.
Delayed Delivery Highlights Project Execution Risks
The repeated postponement of the estate's completion highlights the challenges that can arise when large-scale property developments fail to meet agreed construction schedules.
For governments involved in real estate development, clear project milestones, effective contract monitoring and transparent reporting remain important for ensuring that budgeted resources translate into completed assets.
The latest directive also places greater emphasis on measurable delivery. Requiring 12 buildings to be completed and handed over each month provides a specific benchmark against which the contractor's performance can be assessed.
Implications for Uyo's Property Market
Completion of the estate could strengthen Uyo's supply of organised, high-end residential accommodation and contribute to the city's expanding property market.
The development could also influence surrounding land values and demand if supporting infrastructure improves and the estate attracts buyers.
However, the commercial success of the project will ultimately depend on purchasing power, market demand, pricing and the wider performance of Uyo's economy. Completing the physical structures alone will not guarantee strong sales.
For Akwa Ibom, timely delivery would also demonstrate the state's ability to convert significant public budgetary allocations into functioning real estate assets.
Outlook
Governor Eno's three-month ultimatum gives Western Legacy Investment Limited another opportunity to complete the Ewet Luxury Garden Estate after earlier delivery commitments were missed.
The immediate focus will now shift to construction progress and whether the contractor can meet the monthly target of 12 completed buildings.
The outcome will provide an important test of project monitoring and contract enforcement in a development that has already experienced significant delays. If completed, the estate could add a sizeable high-end residential development to Uyo's property market; if delays continue, the state may have to consider stronger contractual measures to bring the project to completion.
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