Director, Planning, Research & Statistics, Federal Ministry of Works and Housing, Olajide Ode-Martins has called on State governments and the private sector to assist the Federal government in meeting the housing needs of its populace.
Spokesperson of the Ministry, Ms Blessings Lere-Adams disclosed this in a statement issued on Monday, July 25, 2022.
According to the statement, Ode-Martins made the call at the eleventh (11th) meeting of the National Council on Lands, Housing and Urban Development in Sokoto, Sokoto State on Monday.
It noted that the four day meeting has the theme, “Housing Our People by All Of Government and All Our People.”
It also noted that the annual meeting of stakeholders in the built industry was organized by the Federal Ministry of Works and Housing as part of it’s statutory mandate.
Ms. Adams said the meeting was significant as stakeholders in the housing sector had the opportunity to gather, brainstorm, share ideas, identify challenges in the sector and adopt policies that would impact on moving the sector forward in the delivery of affordable houses to Nigerians.
In an introductory remarks, Mr. Olajide Ode-Martins noted that the Federal Government would vitally need the full participation and collaboration of the State Governments and Private Sector in increasing the stock of affordable housing to Nigerians.
“The theme of the Meeting presupposes that Federal Government alone cannot address the gap in the housing development across the country which brings to focus the fact that, State Governments and the Private Sectors are critical stakeholders that have to collaborate effectively towards addressing the housing challenges by bringing to the forefront desirable strategies to increase the stock of affordable houses to Nigerians,” he said.
In a welcome address, the Permanent Secretary, Sokoto State Ministry of Lands, Housing, Survey and Urban Planning, Engr. Ahmed Moyi Tambuwal, said that provision of affordable shelter is a basic necessity for everyone.
He said, “We are all aware that, shelter is a basic necessity to every citizen. Such shelter must be affordable while at the same time meets globally acceptable standards. It is critical to family security, child upbringing and economic growth”.
Engr. Tambuwal noted also that the absence of shelter renders the society vulnerable to precarious situations and backwardness.
While drawing the attention of the participants to the importance of the theme of this year’s council, the Permanent Secretary pointed out the importance of collective contribution in tackling the housing challenges in the Country, stating that every contribution no matter how small it might be would be important
He disclosed that the Sokoto State government would willingly provide land and other requirements to interested developers in the built industry who might be willing to partner with the state in the provision of housing for the citizens.
Participants at the meeting included; State Commissioners and Permanent Secretaries for Lands, Housing and Urban Development, General Managers of Housing Corporations, Surveyor -Generals, Professional/Regulatory Agencies in the housing sector and other stakeholders in the built industry.
