Minister of Housing and Urban Development, Ahmed Dangiwa, has assured that President Bola Tinubu’s administration is working very hard to bridge the housing deficit in the country and make housing available to Nigerians at affordable prices.
He gave the assurance while speaking as a special guest at the South-South Annual General Meeting of the Real Estate Developers Association held in Uyo on Thursday.
Dangiwa who was represented by the Federal Controller at the Ministry, Edwin Gyenger, said, “Due to the significant housing deficit in Nigeria, President Tinubu has initiated various programs primarily aimed at addressing this deficit and also trying to sustain the development of urban areas.”
The minister added that the federal government had initiated a federal housing program called the Renewed Hope Housing Scheme aimed at reducing the housing deficit by increasing the supply of affordable housing to low-income earners, currently handled by the Federal Ministry of Housing.
He, therefore, charged the contractors to work towards the timely completion of these projects with quality and standards as enshrined in the Renewed Hope Housing program.
In his remarks, the Akwa Ibom State Governor, Umo Eno, said that his administration has intervened in the housing sector with affordable housing schemes initiated under the ARISE Agenda blueprint of his government.
The governor, who was represented by the commissioner for Housing, Henry Archibong, said the housing schemes scattered across the three senatorial districts of Uyo, Ikot Ekpene, and Eket, are targeted for low-income earners and workers, including those in the state aviation sector and the rural areas.
“You heard me mention the aviation village which is going to provide accommodation for the aviation workers and by the time that place is open, you will see a lot of development getting into that place and even though that place is the airport, it is still a rural community and so you will see that place open up.
“In the Base estate, the Governor has paid for 150 houses for low-income civil servants, and they have taken those houses; the Governor is also creating a medical corridor close to the specialist hospital, and he is going to provide housing for the doctors.
“Also, recently, there has been the mass housing scheme that was developed by former Governor Akpabio in the three senatorial districts; the present government is interested in doing more developments there.
“I had also suggested in our last meeting that the local government should also have a housing scheme. The federal government also brought the renewed hope housing scheme to the State and we are keying into it. Also, the governor has given me the mandate to source for developers; that is why I am here today representing the Governor and meeting with the key stakeholders in the housing sector,” he explained.
The national President of REDAN. Prince Akintoye Adeoye in his remarks called for quick passage of the Real Estate Regulatory and Development Bill, emphasizing that the bill is not about control but accountability and trust, to establish a regulatory framework that protects all stakeholders, developers alike
He urged professional bodies and sister organizations within the built environment to join estate developers in advocating for the Bill’s passage.
“We call on all professionals within the built environment, our sister organizations, to join hands with REDAN in advocating for the passage of the Real Estate (Regulatory and Development) Bill.
” This Bill is not about control; it’s about order, accountability, and trust. It seeks to establish a regulatory framework that protects all stakeholders, developers alike,” he said.
The State Chairman of REDAN, Godwin James, while welcoming called for serious government commitment to addressing the housing challenges through mass investment in the sector.
