FEDERAL AND STATE GOVERNMENTS RENEW PLEDGES TO ADDRESSING HOUSING DEFICIT IN THE COUNTRY 13-11-23
By Sadiq Aminu Federal Government says it is working on a social housing policy aimed at bridging the housing deficit across the country.
Minister of housing and urban development, Architect Ahmed Musa Dangiwa stated this at the opening ceremony of the 12th meeting of the National Council on lands, housing and urban development holding in Kaduna State.
The Minister, who was represented by the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry, Mr Mahmud Mamman, explained that the policy was aimed at ensuring that vulnerable population across the country can afford to own a house.
He pointed out that the meeting was convened to deliberate on how State Governments can key into the initiative, by way of allocating portion of lands to build affordable houses for the benefit of all Nigerians.
The Minister said the present administration plans to build about 80,000 houses for all Nigerians, based on the level of income of prospective beneficiaries.
Architect Ahmed Dangiwa appealed for patience and understanding on the part of Nigerians, as the federal government strives to make things differently, amidst dwindling resources.
Also speaking, Director planning, research and statistics at the federal ministry of housing, Mr Kolapo Raheem said this year’s meeting was chosen in consideration of the dire need to galvanize domestic and foreign funds towards meeting the nation’s housing challenges and enhancement of the country’s overall economic growth and development.
He urged participants to apply professionalism in the course of deliberations to guide policy formulation that would facilitate affordable housing delivery for all, in line with the renewed hope agenda of the present administration.
In his remarks, Permanent Secretary, Kaduna State ministry of housing and urban development, Mr Rabiu Yunusa said the State Government was working on a programme to providing affordable social mass housing in the 23 LGAs of the State.
He added that the State Government had partnered a Qatari charity organisation to construct 10,000 housing units for the most vulnerable population in the State within the next 4 years.
The 5 day meeting had in attendance, Directors, heads of agencies and professional bodies in the built industry across the country, as well as military and para-military personnel.
The theme of the meeting is: “Harnessing Local and International Credit Schemes as a Panacea for Affordable Housing Infrastructure Development Under The Renewed Hope Agenda.”