In response to the need for adequate and affordable housing for Nigeria, the United African Diasporan States (UADS) with support from the governments of the United States of America and China, hassigned a three-year pact with Invest Africa Inc(IAI) for the construction of 50, 000 houses each in Kaduna and Katsina states, a development that begins the construction of five million homes across states in Nigeria. FRANCIS ADINOYI KADIRI writes that stakeholders agree that the project which is the first UADS infrastructure project in Nigeria will significantly address the country’s alarming housing shortage.
The quest for a pragmatic approach toward addressing Nigeria’s housing needs received a boost through the joint effort of the United African Diasporan States and its supporters across the world as theirefforts set the pace for the construction of one hundred thousand homes in Nigeria, specifically fifty thousand homes each in Kaduna and Katsina states.
It is pertinent to note that the need for adequate and affordable housing has been on the rise for over 15 years following the inability of various governments to effectively embark on sustainable development planning, a laxity that gave rise to a 17 million housing deficit currently suffered by Nigeria.More so, recently, the appalling state of the housing situation in Nigeria prompted civil groups to call on then president to declare a state of emergency in the sector.
Executive President of the Pan African Diasporan States, Professor Brimmy A. U. Olaghere who addressed hispartners during the deal-sealing ceremony recentlyin Abuja assured that flexible payment options will be put in place to make the homes affordable to the poor, adding that deal as the first in a series of UADS development projects for Africa, adding that the Diasporan States is set to build five million houses across states in Nigeria.
According to him, UADS will also embark on developing other sectors of the Nigerian economy to include banking, health, culture and tourism, solid minerals and public infrastructure like roads and bridges among others, stating that “4.6 million miles of road network has already been proposed for Nigeria.”
According to the professor, whose economic advice has helped to shape the Chinese economy, “the project will be financed by the US-Africa
Infrastructure Development Fund,” adding that the united states hall be given a vantage position in the scheme of things as regards the project. “The houses, roads, water and electricity must be ready within three year period,” he said.
The President further disclosed that Invest Africa Inc will be supported by twenty consortium groups from within Nigeria, and diasporas, adding that a special privilege will be extended to the USA “because the USA first established the US-Africa Infrastructure Development Fund,” which will fund the project.
While saying that 50, 000 houses each will be builtby Invest Africa Inc.for Katsinaand Kaduna states, he charged Invest Africa Inc to live up to the expectations of the deal as agreed to by the UADS, the project financiers, and consulting partners.
The accomplished professor said a consortium consisting of a minimum of 2O from Africa and diasporas will support Invest Africa Incas development partners in the project execution, stating that a special privilege will be extended to the USA because the USA first established the US-Africa Infrastructure Development Fund, with $35O million, whichhe said was signed into law in 1998 by former US President Bill Clinton.
He further disclosed that the fund was increased by former President George Bush under the African Growth Opportunity Act (AGOAFOR in June 2OO7, stating that President Barak Obama has recently increased the grant with $66.5billion thereby making it $7O.98 billion. “I’m told that when the US Congress approves my amendment to the bill, it will be $1O8billion,’ he stated.
Describing the commitment of the Chinese government to the funding of UADS proposed projects in Africa, professor Olaghere said, “I planned the Chinese economy, and I wrote to China,” he said, adding that the response of the Chinese government to the projects in Africa was also encouraging.
According to the executive director, “priority will be given to the USA and China because of the outstanding roles they have played in the actualization of the Fund,” he said, adding that materials to be used for the implementation of the project as a matter of importance will be made in the US and China“because according to the Opportunity Act, financing countries have rights to benefit from projects they fund.”
Ambassador Extraordinary who led the delegation of Invest Africa Inc to Nigeria, AmbAliyuMoh’DKatsinaassured UADS and other parties to the deal of the readiness and competence of the organisation to deliver the houses as expected, adding that it was a development long overdue. Stressing the competence of his organisation, he said, “Invest Africa Incorporated is a US based company operating in some sectors of the economy. As you know, most of the funds to bespent arecoming from the United States, and we consider this project another opportunity,” he said.
Charging the principal partner to the project, the Executive President said, “There is no alternative to the success of this project. Invest Africa
Incorporated as the principal partner of UADS must be able to organize the capacity for you to deliver even as it works with other consultants it will attract while executing the project,” he said, adding that the IAI “must coordinate the ability to produce the desired results.”
Giving further conditions for the partnership, the executive director stressed the need for continuous involvement of IAI in the program, assuring that IAI will be involved in thereplication of housing development in other African countries upon successfully completing the housing projects in Nigeria. “When you finish in Nigeria, you can go to another country to replicate the development,” he said.
Consultant Architect with Invest Africa Incorporated,Arc. OseyiOkosodo said, “A point of note is that the project has come at a point of need to Nigerians, just as it will also meet the need of the people of other African countries,” adding that Nigeria’s housing sector has long been in need of such asustainable development.
Consultant quantity surveyourwith Invest Africa Inc., Basil Osheka said the team will soon get to site, assuring that they will work in the interest of the public to discharge the responsibility of building the mega city with which they are saddled.
President of Infrastructure at the United African Diasporanstates, Alfred Ajagbe assured that the collaboration was in order to provide housing as a need of the masses, to the masses. According to him, strategies will be put in place to ensure that the houses will be affordable by majority of citizens. It is pertinent to note that affordability of homes, not availability, is the basic problem of the housing sector in Nigeria. This, Alfred says has been adequately addressed in the project in progress.
