Development.
Housing is a basic human need, and people-centered governments do not fall short in providing for their residents. In Nigeria, the federal government is still battling with the issue of housing shortages and is not close to closing the gap. Nonetheless, alternatives are being proposed to address the problems. Kunle Aderinokun has the story.
There are three essential necessities that must be addressed to ensure human survival: food, clothing, and housing. It is the responsibility of society to meet these basic needs for everyone; nevertheless, meeting these needs for everyone is a significant difficulty. Housing shortages are a global phenomenon that is not exclusive to Nigeria.
Rural-to-urban migration has shifted the housing industry’s balance, resulting in an excess in rural areas and a deficit in urban areas. During the third edition of Lafarge Africa Plc’s Concrete Ideas series webinar, a credible platform for strategic discussions of critical and topical issues in the area of construction and other sections of its value chain in the construction and built environment, Minister of Works and Housing, Mr. Babatunde Raji Fashola, aptly described the situation, saying, “In most of Nigeria’s rural areas, the situation is dire.” Many Nigerians who are vying for apartments in Lagos, Aba, Port Harcourt, Abuja, Kaduna, and other cities in the country possess four- or five-bedroom villas in their villages, which are likely idle and unused.”
Nigeria’s housing shortfall was expected to be at 7 million units in 1991, and it was estimated to be 17 million units in 2012, according to statistics supplied by the National Bureau of Statistics.
Housing Shortage,
The housing sector’s performance is a deciding factor in determining a country’s health. The housing sector is viewed as crucial for encouraging economic growth in the Philippines, as it is in most developed countries. Unfortunately, for the great majority of Nigerians, particularly those in the middle and lower income classes, access to cheap housing has mainly remained a pipe dream.
Fashola, who chaired the third edition of the Concrete Ideas webinar, with the theme ‘New Solutions to Nigeria’s Urban Housing,’ suggested that Nigeria does not have a 17 million or 22 million housing deficit because there is no proven data to support that claim. He did, however, acknowledge that housing challenges are an urban problem that has risen as a result of rapid urbanization.
In a panel moderated by Arit Okpo, Arch Sonny Echono, President Nigeria Institute of Architects; Builder Kunle Awobodu of Nigeria Institute of Building; Dr. Ayo Teriba, CEO, Economic Associates; Ms. Amaka Nwaokolo, CEO Blue-Tower House; Ms. Olajumoke Adegunle, Head of Mortar, Lafarge Africa Plc; and Mr. Femi Yusuff, Head Technical Affordability and accessibility of housing The question of a one-time payment, The impact of high interest rates and currency fluctuations on housing finance Government and private properties that have been abandoned and are currently underutilized. Salinity’s effects on old buildings, Building land is difficult to come by, and there are no local alternatives to imported building supplies.
Mr. Khaled El Dokani, Chief Executive Officer of Lafarge Africa Plc, reiterated the company’s role in alleviating the situation, saying, “A lot of these solutions that we have developed can be implemented to solve quite a few problems that the panel members have spoken about, through collaboration, coordination, and implementation.”
Solutions,
The panelists proposed the following action plans to address the difficulties after significant deliberation:
The National Planning Commission should make certain that the country’s next census includes both homeownership and home renting data. It’s impossible to fix an issue if we can’t quantify it.
The Ministry of Finance, Budget, and National Planning should make use of its fiscal and monetary policy tools to lower interest and lending rates. Because real estate requires a lot of capital, it’s important to figure out how to give reasonable financing to players in the industry, making it easier to get residences. The strain on end-users will be minimized if they have simple access to funding. Then, if flexible payment options are implemented, affordability becomes a real possibility. Furthermore, state legislatures and attorneys general should introduce legislation to make housing more affordable for Nigerians.
Furthermore, the panel advocated for a shift in our construction methods, with a focus on those segments of our people who are in need of homes. Those with purchasing power do not want four-bedroom housing; they now live in small – areas and carry their laptops and WI-FI in their backpacks; they shower rather than bathe.
The government should concentrate on providing strong road networks to rural areas so that the possibilities that people come to town to seek are closer to them.
Mr. El Dokani, CEO Lafarge Africa, emphasized the new solutions for addressing Nigeria’s housing needs, saying, “Lafarge Africa, as a member of Holcim, will undoubtedly adopt the same measure in Nigeria as our commitment aligns with the global sustainability strategy of building progress for people and the planet.”
Through continuing policy engagement with key players and stakeholders in the public and private sectors, Lafarge is demonstrating its commitment to developing a future that is greener, smarter, and works for all.
