Akwa Ibom State Government is to build 2,500 houses annually to ameliorate the housing problem in the State.

This was announced by the Hon. Commissioner for Housing and Urban Renewal, Emmanuel Enoidem in his speech on behalf of the Governor during the World Habitat Day 2008 celebration on October 20.

He noted that the idea of global celebration of the World Habitat Day was to reflect on the state of Towns and Cities and the basic right to adequate shelter for all.

Governor Akpabio said , the year 2008 theme "Harmonious Cities" was intended to create awareness about the problems of rapid urbanization and its impact on the environment as many people were drifting from the rural areas to the cities in search of greener pastures.

According to him, the rural-urban drift was creating housing in the cities and the State Government was therefore, embarking on massive construction of houses to meet the needs of the people.

The Governor promised to develop satellite towns in Eket and Ikot Abasi local government areas, adding that the provision of well equipped housing facilities was imperative in addressing the rapid impact of urbanization.

In his welcome address, the Commissioner for Housing and Urban Renewal represented by the Director of Housing, Arc. Sydney W. Emah , said the need to provide centres for jobs, education, business, recreation, shopping, worship and social activities was urgent and conspicuous on Akwa Ibom State agenda. He observed that, this year's World Habitat Day celebration has accorded the State the opportunity for the appraisal of the overall condition of human settlement.

The Commissioner noted that with the creation of the Ministry of Niger Delta, there is hope that harmony among cities and towns will be facilitated by addressing areas of perceived inequalities and marginalization.

In his paper on the occasion, titled "Urbanization and Sustainable Environment towards vision 2020" the Commissioner for Environment and Mineral Resources, Mr. Census Ekpu, noted that cities like Lagos, Abuja and Port Harcourt are case studies of what mindless rural - urban migration could cause to the environment.

Mr. Ekpu therefore stressed that urban designs for emerging new towns should be properly implemented. Prof. Imoh Ukpong of the Department of Geography, University of Uyo, also presented a seminar paper titled "Harmonious Cities, How Harmonious?"