Based on a scary statistics of between 17 million to 21 million housing deficit in the country, stakeholders have observed that the figures will keep soaring with Nigeria’s ever-increasing population growth. In this piece, OLAWALE LAMINA x-rays this critical issue and presents the consensus of opinions.
Sequel to this reality, some practitioners in the built sector have called on the government, both at the state and federal levels to ensure moves that could help to ameliorate the housing crisis and in turn lead to affordable housing for families.
Reacting to this state of affairs, the immediate past President of the Nigerian Institution of Estate Surveyors and Valuers (NIESV), Emmanuel Okas Wike, said that, it is “unfortunate’ that the Nigeria’s housing deficit remains critical, when compared to her over 200 million population.
He called for an immediate and urgent steps to addressed the challenge. He reacted thus: “It is quite unfortunate, that as most developed countries of the world have been able to find a way of addressing the issue of acute housing shortage, Nigeria is still grappling with a way of constructing low and affordable housing for its citizenry. What we have now, is grossly inadequate and the earlier we start thinking of finding a permanent solution to this ‘hydra-headed monster, the better it will be for the people.”
In proffering solution to the national issue, the former head of Institution of Estate Surveyors and Valuers noted that government at all levels should join hands to make mass and affordable housing a reality.“My honest suggestion, is for all governments at different levels to embark on the construction of low and affordable housing. I commend the efforts of the Federal Government and some state governments in their efforts at building affordable housing for the people but the question to be asked, is how affordable are these units,” said Wike.
Similarly, Chairmen of the Nigerian Institute of Architects (NIA), Lagos State Chapter, Arc. David Majekodunmi observed that the availability of low and affordable housing in the country is germaine to addressing the country’s housing.He emphasized that efforts to actualize mass housing would take a long term measures because of the rapid growth in Nigeria’s population. He contented that the present state of economy cannot guarantee a massive construction based on other competing demands on government.
But Arc. Majekodunmi expressed the confidence that with necessary political will and priorities, there are chances if speeding up the process of bridging the yawning housing gap currently being faced.
On his own part, President of the Nigerian Institute of Building (NIOB), Chucks Omeife blamed the issue on lack of political will untill government is resolved to flatten the curves.
As a way forward, he called on the government to embark on construction of low and affordable housing units, most especially targeting the low income earners.
He added that government at all levels should allow the private property developers to be fully involved but should endeavour to provide the infrastructure and supervise the process in addition to making the process of obtaining loans for the construction of the low cost housing units less cumbersome.
The NIOB president noted that the National Housing Trust Fund should be alive and ensure that loans are given at very low interest rate to those that are eligible and qualified for accessing them.
The Chairman of the Nigerian Institute of Town Planners (NITP) TPL, Ayo Adejumo criticized the government for a situation where most of the housing units being constructed nationwide are beyond the reach of the common man, especially the low income earners.He advised the government at the federal level to conduct a review its policies on housing and engage the private property developers in meaningful partnership in oder to actualize its dream of making mass housing affordable to the majority.
About The Author
