Operators urge FG to do more for construction industry in the spirit of independence

Some operators in Nigeria’s building sector say the benefits of the country’s independence have not been felt in the housing and construction industry.
They urged the leadership to prioritize the industry for Nigeria’s economic revival. They insisted that the federal and state governments should stimulate the economy through the housing and construction industry, which has been “left unattended for a long time.”

Mr. Jide Oke, former Chairman of the Nigerian Institute of Quantity Surveyors (NUQS) Lagos Chapter, said-the governments should focus more on the development of capital projects as a way of stimulating the economy. Mr. Oke who lamented the slow pace of construction activities across the country also stated that capital projects are a sure way of attracting investments, which will revive the economy from the effects of the recession.

He called for the review and implementation of various housing and construction policies enacted in the past to jump-start activities in the industry.

“Since Independence till now, the housing industry has not enjoyed remarkable growth. So many Nigerians do not have access to decent houses. he said
This is coming at a time when the country is celebrating its 58th Independence Anniversary, the housing deficit is still over 17 million with people lining the streets and the highways making every available space their abode. This is not healthy for a developing country like Nigeria. The mortgage system, the National Housing Fund (NHF) among others are not effective.

Prof. Timothy Nubi, Dean, Faculty of Environmental Sciences, University of Lagos, said the construction sector had the potential to revive and grow the Nigerian economy. Nubi said construction activities would provide more job opportunities to a large number of people at a time.

In the US, there are now more jobs than people can feel and a large chunk is in construction. Nigeria is blessed with great land mass, youths, and professionals who are ready to work, but it is amazing that many of the construction projects are contracted out to foreign companies, who bring in their expatriates from their home countries and charge exorbitantly, at the end of the day, payments are left outstanding and projects are left uncompleted.

However, a fraction of what has been spent on some of those failed projects, some indigenous companies would do a perfect job.

Credit: DeyThere