Institution tasks Nigerian government on low-cost housing

Most urban housing are created for high income earners.

The Nigerian Institution of Estate Surveyors and Valuers, NIESV, Learning Centre on Saturday urged the Federal Government to find a solution to the funding of low income houses.

The chairman of the centre, Williams Odudu, said in Lagos that finding a solution to the problem would go a long way to curb some of the social vices in the society.

“The various tiers of government, especially the Federal Government should find a solution to how the housing industry should be funded to provide accommodation for the low income cadre in the society,” he said.

He added that the development of mass housing estates has a multiplier effects as it provides jobs for skilled and unskilled people.

“Those selling foods and other condiments will also benefit. When majority of the citizenry, especially youths are usefully engaged and have a means of livelihood, they will hardly have time to get involved in crimes and other social vices,” he said.

He noted that the existing housing policies were not being effectively implemented.

“There are series of policies on housing at the moment; however, effective and efficient implementation have been the problem,” he said.

The chairman identified some of the challenges in the sector as the lack of focus on housing for those who really need the houses, poor quality materials, inadequate training of artisans, the lack of partnership with the Real Estate Developers Association of Nigeria, REDAN, among others.

He urged the government to find a solution also to the issue of local raw materials production for housing as well as address holistically all the problems hindering the implementation of existing policies.

(NAN)