Nigerians to enjoy Social Housing from 2015

The programme will run from 2015 to 2015

Nigerians to enjoy Social Housing from 2015
Hauwa Abu Anaja, Abuja

Finding ways of developing low income and affordable housing, otherwise known as social housing for Nigerians is the focus of the Ministry of Lands, Housing and Urban Development under the leadership of Ms Amal Pepple, its Minister.

In order to achieve this, the Ministry has begun a review of the National Housing Policy which was last reviewed in 1991.

The review and validation exercise involved key stakeholders in the lands and housing sector, suggesting ways the policy can be made to meet the growing demands and challenges of the housing sector.

Ms Amal Pepple said at a stakeholders’ validation workshop on the revised draft National Housing and Urban Development policy in Abuja that, with an efficient policy, a dynamic system of urban settlement that would foster sustainable economic growth would be achieved.

"We are aiming at unleashing a housing revolution in Nigeria, with the over arching goal of ensuring that all Nigerians own or have access to decent homes," she said.

Meeting World Standards

The hope is that, housing standards in Nigeria would meet world standards by the year 2020 with effective implementation, coordination and assessments of the provisions of the policy.

The policy allows for integration of public-private partnership, promoting dynamic urban settlements, setting annual targets for housing delivery with a catalytic effect on job creation, amongst others.

It would also help address issues of housing finance, building materials and workforce, access to land, infrastructural and Urban development, security, etc.

The policy is in two faces namely; National Housing Policy and National Urban Development Policy.

Alternative Housing Finance Scheme

Presenting a paper on low income Housing on a large scale using specialized finances rather than Bank finances, the Managing Director of the Federal Housing Authority, Architect Terver Gemade identified five major means of achieving optional housing finances.

Mr. Gemade said a low income housing strategic fund has been established to create a platform for the existence of a large pool of funds to finance housing provision on a sustainable basis.

He said, "For Federal Government, funds can be raised from intervention Fund/grants, recovered funds, low interest loans, and state and local governments should also contribute.

"Also, multilateral funds and donor agencies, Corporate Social Responsibility, Organisations with Contributory Long Term Funds such as the Federal Inland Revenue Service, Securities and Exchange Commission, Central Bank of Nigeria, Pension-Linked Mortgages and Insurance Companies,"  he explained.

Co-operative Society Housing Scheme

A co-operative Housing Finance Scheme has also been launched to enable low income earners, and non-civil or public servants access lands and housing.

These categories of people include artisans, farmers, and the likes. Through a cooperative organization, funds can be accessed by its members to either acquire lands, or houses at an affordable rate.

Ms Pepple however urged Nigerians to believe in the vision of her Ministry, and develop attitudinal change towards managing resources and infrastructure to ensure that slums are wiped out of Nigerian cities.

"My plea is that, Nigerians believe in our vision to transform the housing sector and help us so that we can help them too," she said.

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