TVC E. New Minister of Power, Works and Housing and former Lagos State Governor, Mr Babatunde Fashola, speaking recently at the 35th Annual General Meeting and International Symposium of Shelter Afrique last week in Abuja, revealed that “at least 12 states have responded to a request by the Federal Government to release landed property, in order to construct affordable homes for Nigerians, thereby reducing the wide deficit gap of shelter in the country”.
According to the Minister, the plan by the government to create more affordable homes for her citizens was gathering momentum interest even though states were already responding positively to the government’s initiative.
Mr Babatunde Fashola, noted that the first key to the road map in housing was planning.
He said, “The country has only a policy statement and not a plan, we must never be tired to explain the necessity and importance of proper planning”. It is the key to successful execution; it is the key to project completion; it is the key to cost control and reduction in variation requests and financial calculations”.
Furthermore, on the plans of his Ministry, the Minister explained that the plan requires “a clear understanding of who we want to provide housing for”, He added, “I recognize that there are people who want land to build for themselves; there are also people who want town houses and duplexes, whether detached or semi-detached”, pointing out that this category of people were not in the majority.
“The people who we must focus on are those in the majority and those who are most vulnerable; the people who are in the bracket of those who graduated from University about five years ago and more. People who are in the income bracket of grade level 9 to 15 in the public service and their counterparts, taxi drivers, market men and women, farmers, artisans who earn the same range of income”.
Mr Babatunde Fashola expressing pleasure that a lot of work has been done by staff of the Ministry towards concluding the plans, also acknowledged the voluntary contribution of some private sector to the initiatives adding that while more responses are being awaited, the Ministry was taking the next step to survey the plots of land and develop layouts, preparatory to commencing development.
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