…a milestone in Rivers State’s affordable housing drive
A new chapter in the housing story of Rivers State unfolded on Friday, October 24, 2025, as the first resident officially moved into her home at the Greater TaF City, a 20,000-unit housing development located along Tam David-West Boulevard, Obirikwerre, New Airport Road in Greater Port Harcourt.
The symbolic handover marked a major milestone in the state government’s resolve to provide affordable and modern housing solutions for its citizens. What was once a vast construction site has now begun transforming into a vibrant residential community, with over 700 housing units already completed or at advanced stages of development.
The Greater TaF City project is a product of a public-private partnership between the Rivers State Government, represented by the Greater Port Harcourt City Development Authority (GPHCDA), and TAF Global Africa Group, through its Nigerian subsidiary, Pricewise Nigeria Ltd.
Speaking at the brief handover ceremony, Administrator of the GPHCDA, Bennett Chu, said the government was committed to bridging the housing deficit in the state through multi-level partnerships that combine public oversight with private sector efficiency.
“Every single proposition was carefully verified. We are both a regulator and a partner in this project, ensuring that buyers and investors get value. The government wants the best for Rivers people,” Chu said.
He added that the successful handover was just the beginning, as more homeowners were expected to take possession of their apartments in the coming days, turning the estate into one of the most modern residential developments in the South-South region.
While the Greater TaF City celebrated its first occupant, another ambitious housing development, the Port Harcourt Airport City (PH-AirportCity), was simultaneously launched with a vision to reshape the urban landscape of the state capital.
The PH-AirportCity, situated near the Port Harcourt International Airport in Omagwa, is a “mini-city within the Garden City,” designed to attract top-level professionals and investors who had left Port Harcourt due to insecurity and infrastructural decline.
The scheme, which will initially deliver 2,000 housing units in phases, is a partnership between the Rivers State Government, through the GPHCDA, and Masta Services Company Limited, led by veteran builder Ugo Ohuabunwa. The project is being executed under a Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV), Masta-Rivers Development Company Limited, with Masta Services holding 70 percent equity and the GPHCDA 30 percent.
At the project’s launch, which drew a large audience at the Hotel Presidential, Port Harcourt, Ohuabunwa described the development as “a mini-city in the city for the highest class”, emphasizing that luxury and affordability could go hand in hand.
“People fled Port Harcourt not only because of insecurity but also because there were no world-class homes for top executives. We are changing that. The new city is deliberately located close to the airport and will become Nigeria’s first true aerotropolis, an urban area driven by the airport economy and global connectivity,” he explained.
According to him, the PH-AirportCity will feature a range of modern amenities — from smart homes with CCTV and e-security systems to malls, road networks, stormwater drainage, fiber optics, central sewage, gas-to-power systems, and multiple fire stations. Housing options will range from one-bedroom units to five-bedroom luxury homes, starting from about ₦32 million.
Funding for the project, Ohuabunwa added, is structured to ensure affordability, with land provided by the government and financing options made available through the Federal Mortgage Bank of Nigeria (FMBN) and Stanbic IBTC Mortgage Company.
At the unveiling ceremony, Melody Ukwa, the Port Harcourt Branch Manager of the FMBN, highlighted various mortgage options available to prospective buyers, including Rent-to-Own, Renovation Loans, Individual Construction Loans, Diaspora Funding, and National Housing Fund schemes, with tenures extending up to 30 years.
Marketing consultant Ade Adeoshun, who also spoke at the event, described the launch as “a great dawn in Rivers State,” praising the government for creating an enabling environment for investors and developers to contribute to urban growth.
Covering approximately 1,900 square kilometers and spanning eight local government areas, Greater Port Harcourt City is envisioned to host a population of two million people. The integration of PH-AirportCity and Greater TaF City into the broader city plan signals a deliberate effort to decongest old Port Harcourt while providing modern infrastructure and housing for its growing population.
The dual milestones, the first occupancy at Greater TaF City and the unveiling of PH-AirportCity, underscore Rivers State’s renewed momentum in addressing housing challenges.
For many residents, the developments offer more than just new homes; they represent a rebirth of the Garden City ideal, a vision of Port Harcourt as a modern, livable, and investor-friendly metropolis.
With more projects in the pipeline and an emphasis on sustainability, comfort, and affordability, the Greater Port Harcourt dream appears to be finally taking shape, one home at a time.
