The newly appointed Minister of Lands, Housing and Urban Development, Mrs Akon Ekakenyi, has listed 15 most targeted problem areas of the administration, saying that solving them will do much to effectively address the current housing hortages in the country, FRANCIS ADINOYI KADIRI reports
Operators of the Nigeria hosing sector generally agree that there is a need for pragmatic approach to solving the soaring housing needs in Nigeria. Earlier, former minister of Lands, Housing and Urban Development, Ms Ammal Pepple, did assure that her administration will address the issues bedeviling the sector through a multifaceted approach of developing new building technologies. However, Pepple’s project did not see the light of the day as it was abandoned without completion following sudden exit from government.
Pepple’s successor, Mrs Akon Ekakenyi, who spoke at a press briefing on Tuesday in Abuja said the administration hasprioritized 15 problem areas, stating that the administration will address the issues with a renewed sense of commitment.“Though the challenges to the sector are real and obvious, we are convinced that with the renewed sense of commitment of this administration, coupled with strengthened collaboration with all stakeholders in theindustry, the desired revolution in the housing sector devoid of unfulfilled promises will be achieved in not too distant future,” she said, adding that the disappointments of the past are now over.
Top on her list of priorities is solving the problems associated with the implementation of the Land Use Act of 1978, which problems was securing ownership and title rights without delays. It is pertinent to note that delays associated with securing title have been the bane on the implementation of the Act.
While saying thatpoor land administration arising from little effort in computerizing federal and state land registries was another problem of the system, the minister stressed that delay in, and high cost of processing land titles also beset the targeted goals of housing provisions, stressing that the administration was set to end the problems.
According to her, “high cost of construction, and of constriction materials, and the rampant use of substandard building materials further constitute a menace to the sector.”
While she noted that the lack of enforcement of building regulations by the professionals in the industry as a result of absence of relevant legislations was a major cause of insecure houses, she pointed out that the wide affordability gap in home ownership also compounded the problems, assuring that the administration will put in place strategies to end the scourge.
According to the minister, another problem that is in the focus of the administration is the “unresolved jurisdictional conflict among federal and state government physical planning agencies, with regards to the Supreme Court Judgment of 13 June 2OO3 which restricted several physical planning activities to residual matters exclusively within the executive competence of the States.”
She noted that prevalence of unskilled local personnel in the building industry was still an alarming problems stating that available data on population and home needs was in fact unreliable, a problem she said her administration will solve.
“Another problem we have set to solve is the increasing urbanization and its array of problems,” which she said includes mass unemployment, insecurity, poverty, housing shortages, urban congestion, slum settlements, and badly deteriorating infrastructure among others.
While lamenting the lack of social and low income housing programmes, the minister was alarmed by the low capital base of the primary and secondary mortgage institutions noting that the “dearth of long term secondary and primary mortgage housing finance for home buyers was also on the priority list of her administration.
“In recognition of these challenges which have persisted over the years, and which required urgent attention, the administration of President Goodluck Jonathan has a vision of a repositioned and vibrant housing and urban development sector as provided in the Transformation Agenda and vision 2O2O strategic document.”
The minister quoted President Jonathan as saying that “‘the current administration had taken cognizance of the housing and urban development sector as an important area requiring priority attention for reinvigoration andrevitalization,” adding that the vision is increasingly being energized by the ministry and its agencies.
According to theminister, government is collaborating with industry stakeholders to develop appropriate policies and strategies, regulatory and institutional frameworks for efficient land administration, provision of affordable mass housing, and rapid transformation of towns and cities into livable, inclusive and productive communities that will contribute positively to national growth and development.
She said the housing and construction industry has enormous potentials of job creation, stating that the administration will take advantage of it.
“Housing and human settlements sector requires a quick turn-around, the resources required to ensure its rapid transformation cannot be solely provided by government,” she said, adding that the situation explains the paradigm shift in the policy thrust of housing in favour of more effective participation of the private sector to help reduce the huge housing deficit.
“Despite the challenges that housing delivery has encountered in the country over the years, the renewed vigour and policy re orientation of this administration have set the agenda for housing and urban development revolution in the country,” she said.
She expressed confidence in the viability of the National Housing Policy as well as the National Urban Development Policy to address the problems of housing and urban development in a “comprehensive, integrated and holistic manner,” adding that “the process for the formulation of a National Lands Policy has commenced and is steadily progressing.”
While enjoining stakeholders to rise up to the challenges of contributing their ideas to solving the problems, the minister recalled that the recently held National Housing and Slum Summit as well as the establishment of a National Habitat Committee have provided platforms for key stakeholders in sector.
“In the area of international cooperation, the federal government recently entered into agreement with Shelter Afrique to establish a regional office in Abuja,” she disclosed, adding that the development will facilitate improved access to loans and credit facilities for housing and infrastructure development by Nigerian investors.
According to her, the administration is actively engaging the United Nations Human Settlements program to harness the vast technical facilities available to transform Nigerian towns and cities into more conducive communities for working, living and relaxation.” She said Nigeria is championing African Urban Agenda in collaboration with the UN Habitat, stating that the development is timed at dealing with the rapid population growth and deteriorating living conditions of human settlements in Africa.