Stakeholders in the Nigerian housing sector have identified high cost of land, cost of perfection of title, problem of long term funding, competition amongst others as major challenges faced in the course of providing affordable houses to the teeming population. They, therefore, called on the government to tackle these challenges by providing incentives to developers in order to accelerate the building of affordable houses for over 20 million homeless Nigerians.
Worried by these challenges, Mr. Charles Inyangete Chairman, Innovative Risk and Investment Solutions Limited, IRIS, noted that state governments have critical roles to play for affordable housing for Nigerians to be achievable, saying land provision under terms that are favorable to developers is critical to providing houses for the low income earners.
Speaking exclusively to Africanhousingnews.com during the unveiling of the newly completed Mews Housing Project, Katampe, Abuja, Inyangete stressed that the state governor has the right to provide the necessary approval and consent that are needed for mass housing development across the nation.
Inyangete who was the former Managing Director of Nigerian Mortgage Refinance Company (NMRC) further urged all state governors to prioritize affordable housing development policies to tackle homeless in their various domains and bridge the nation`s huge 20 million housing deficit that has become a tick in the skin of Nigerians for a long while.
In his goodwill message at the unveiling event, the Chief Executive Officer, FESADEB Media group and organizer of Abuja Housing International Show AIHS, Barrister Festus Adebayo commended the housing developer for the giant stride and reassured the industry of his undying commitment towards supporting the growth of the sector.
According to Adebayo, “For us at Abuja International Housing Show, we will continue and will not relent in promoting all matters that will lead to the provision of affordable housing to Nigerian citizens. This is our commitment and the career we have chosen, and by God’s grace, we will not fail.”
The unveiling event was also attended by top figures in the housing sector including the Chief Executive Officer, Nigerian Mortgage Refinance Company NMRC, Mr. Kehinde Ogundimu, President, Real Estate Developers Association of Nigeria, REDAN, Rev Ugochukwu Chime, Chief Executive Officer, Innovative Risk and Investment Solutions Limited, Mr Charles Iyangete amongst other prominent person.
