The Federal Government has blamed housing deficit in the country on incompetence and inadequacy of operators in the sector.
The Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Works and Housing, Abubakar Magaji made this known while declaring open the 5th meeting of the National Council on Lands, Housing and Urban Development in Ilorin.
Magaji also said that the country has been experiencing enormous challenges in the area of quality buildings. The theme of the meeting is “Building adequate capacity of professionals, artisans and tradesmen in the built environment.”
He urged delegates at the meeting “to bring your professional and technical competences to bear while deliberating on the memoranda presented and come up with workable recommendations that would address the challenges in the built industry.
“I also enjoin you to recommend measures to be taken to reposition the sector to contribute its quota in the nation’s quest for sustainable growth and development.”
“It is hoped that among others, issues on quality control, personnel training and development, use of local contents and such other vital issues would be discussed.”
The Kwara State commissioner for Housing and Urban Development, Muideen Alalade in his speech asked stakeholders to use the forum in redressing inadequacies in the construction industry.
He added that “the programme is timely, considering the challenges of housing deficits in the country and unprofessionalism in the construction industry; I believe that all gathered here today should be wary of quackery and use of substandard materials in the construction industry which have been the cause of loss of lives and property.
“I am therefore, very sure that the theme of this year’s meeting will adequately address various constraints in the sector. Let me place on records that the state government is determined to provide mass housing for its people as the government is poised to make the state home for every Nigerian,” he said.
