Abuja Housing Show drums support for affordable housing delivery

Stakeholders have called for the implementation of appropriate policies and strategies to provide affordable housing to Nigerians.

They spoke at the ninth edition of the Abuja Housing Show in Abuja.

The event has kicked off with the theme, “Delivery of Affordable Housing: Financing, Building Technology and Land issues in Nigeria.”

Stakeholders drummed support for affordable housing delivery to Nigerians.

The Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Lands, Housing and Urban Development, George Ossi, said the theme for this year’s housing show was apt.

“It reflects the very critical and relevant issues that must be addressed to pave way for the housing revolution which is envisaged to take place in the country in the coming years, under the present dispensation,” Ossi said from Abuja.

He said the housing sector was crucial to the overall rapid development of the nation.

Ossi disclosed that the Ministry had put in place necessary machinery to jump-start a housing revolution through the development of appropriate policies and frameworks including the National Housing and Urban Development Policies, the Housing Component of the National Integrated infrastructure Master Plan (NIMP) and the Building Code.

Others, he said, include the National Land Policy, Roadmap for the Housing and Urban Development Sector, Land Administration and Management Reforms, adding that the Ministry also supported the establishment of the Nigeria Mortgage Refinance Company (NMRC) launched last year as an innovative, transformational and strategic step towards scaling-up mortgage penetration, access to affordable mass housing and increased home ownership in the country.

Senator Osita Izunaso, who represented Vice-President, Prof Yemi Osinbajo, said the present administration was determined to deliver basic needs to Nigerians including housing needs as it promised during the campaigns.