According to the National President of Nigerian Institute of Town Planners (NITP), Tpl. Lekwa Ezutah, the body is committed to achieving affordable housing in Nigeria and would collaborate with all stakeholders, including the Real Estate Developers Association of Nigeria (REDAN), to achieve this goal.
While delivering a goodwill message at the 1st Jakande Annual Housing Lecture Series organized by REDAN in Lagos on Thursday, Ezutah said The NITP is ever ready to collaborate with all relevant stakeholders in the housing and infrastructural subsector to provide Nigerians with livable environments which includes affordable housing.
Apart from the country’s enormous housing deficit, he said there is the more significant issue of affordability.
‘’We must begin to address the issue of affordability. How do we provide a decent accommodation for the family on a minimum wage of N30, 000? This is the direction in which chief Lateef Jakande’s contribution to housing development in Nigeria must be appreciated.
‘’I therefore charge REDAN to work with all relevant stakeholders to address the twin issues of deficit and affordability,’’ he said.
He added that the idea of instituting Jakande annual housing annual lecture series as a way of appreciating the tremendous role of the icon in housing development in Nigeria is indeed a welcome one.
He said it lends credence to the maxim that honor should be given to whom it is due.
‘’It is also a way to honour REDAN, for I can attest without equivocation to the fact that the impact REDAN has made in terms of real estate development especially general housing provision in Nigeria is outclassing. However, REDAN must not rest on its oars. Of course there is still a lot to be done in the housing sector.’’
