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How FG can realise 10,000 housing units in states, by NIESV

By Victor Gbonegun
26 September 2016   |   2:16 am
The Keynote Speaker and Special Guest of Honour would be the Hon. Minister of Power, Works and Housing, Mr. Babatunde Raji Fashola.
Babatunde Raji Fashola, Minister of Works, Power and Housing.

Babatunde Raji Fashola, Minister of Works, Power and Housing.

Following revelations in some quarters of governments’ proposal for 10,000 housing units in each state of the federation including the Federal Capital Territory, the Nigerian Institution of Estate Surveyors and Valuers, (NIESV) is urging the government to address issues that could pose a clog in the wheel of progress in the scheme.

According to the institution, although such project appears a giant step and a quantum leap towards getting out of the housing quagmire in Nigeria as it will supply about 37,000 units into the housing market which implies that in about 54 phases of similar exercise, Nigeria would get pulled out of her housing deficits earlier than expected, combining with the efforts of the private sector.

NIESV said, government, must address issues of lack of infrastructure, inhabitable deserted out-of-town locations, abandonment, lack of security and non-conformity with the social and religious lives of the benefiting communities which affected the sustainability of past efforts in the country.

In addition, it challenged government to put in place a mechanism that would ensure the workability of the laudable project by reducing to the barest minimum; corruption of all kinds, while keeping focus on producing houses that will meet the needs of the people, as well as being affordable to the low income group, “Government should make available the designs, types and prices of these houses as well as the mode of acquisition.”

“Despite the various policies, institutions and regulations which the Nigerian government has put in place since the 1960s, there is still a dearth of housing, especially for the low-income segment. It has been reported that Nigeria has a housing deficit of about 20 million units and requires about N70 trillion to bridge housing deficit based on an estimated average cost of N3.5 million per housing unit.”

The institution recalled that Federal Government of Nigeria in exercise of its constitutional role of providing housing for the various needs of the populace, have from time immemorial made interventions in the housing sector of Nigeria through the Federal Ministry of Housing, Federal Housing Authority (FHA), Federal Mortgage Bank of Nigeria, amongst others. Whilst some of these projects were helpful and successful in some parts of the country, it was a flop, a waste of resources, and hideout for criminals, home for lunatics, and abandoned projects and so on in some other parts of the country.

“Looking at the current economic depression in our country, which has caused tremendous cash squeeze on government, private sector and individuals, the outlook is unclear as to how to actualize the project. Almost a year since the programme was announced, Nigerians are yet to see genuine efforts towards actualizing it.”

In view of these development, NIESV through its 5th National Housing Summit hopes to draw the attention of the government and the general public to the elements that are capable of derailing the programme and what it takes to bring about a successful housing programme that would impact on the society positively, as well as engender confidence and goodwill for the government.

Addressing a press conference on the summit last week, the Chairman, Biodun Odeleye, stated that the forum would focus on the Main theme: “Ten thousand Housing Units in each State of the Federal Republic of Nigeria: Issues and Prospects” with the Dean of Environmental Sciences, University of Lagos, Prof. Timothy Nubi presenting the Lead Paper.

Other sub-themes the summit would address are: “Taming Crime Challenges through City Regeneration” to be presented by Dr. (Mrs.) Iyenemi Ibimina Kakulu of the Rivers State University of Science and Technology, the Ag. Managing Director/Chief Executive of the Federal Mortgage Bank of Nigeria, Mr. Richard John Esin would present a paper on “Building a Robust Housing Mortgage System for Housing Delivery in Nigeria”, while the Director General for Nigeria Building and Road Research Institute, Prof. Danladi Matawal would present a paper on “Reducing Housing Cost through Modern Housing Techniques and Construction Materials”, amongst other speakers.

The Keynote Speaker and Special Guest of Honour would be the Hon. Minister of Power, Works and Housing, Mr. Babatunde Raji Fashola.

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