The Minister of Power, Works and Housing, Mr. Babatunde Fashola, revealed that the federal government has concluded on how it plans to build more houses for Nigerians in its mass housing programme and would soon launch the implementation strategies.
Speaking at the 46th annual conference of the Nigerian Institute of Estate Surveyors (NIESV) in Abuja, Fashola also called for a careful review of the exorbitant agency terms often dished out to house seekers by estate agents in cities across the country. He stated that it was no secret that Nigeria has a huge housing deficit; he however explained that the government has designed clear steps to quickly begin to close the gap.
“Of course it is no secret that we are faced with a housing deficit that we must reduce, what is debatable is of course the size of the deficit. My take is that whatever the size of the deficit, the first step to reducing it starts with a clear plan, which we are already working on, and not with lamentations which we are not indulging in.”
“Very shortly, we will be unveiling the details of that plan to Nigerians, and how we intend to use it to re-ignite and diversify our economy on a sustainable basis,” added Fashola.
The minister also called on Nigerian Institute of Estate Surveyors (NIESV) to review and ensure that its members comply with the principles of real estate valuation and pricing of accommodation. According to him, extant unwholesome practices by estate agents hinder access to housing and compound the challenge of urbanisation in the country.
He said: “While government will concentrate on building houses to start the process of improving home ownership as one side of the shelter issue of urbanisation, I believe your association has a great deal to contribute to the other half of shelter acquisition by making rental accommodation more affordable.”
