Surveyors urges private sector’s cooperation in providing housing.

Members of the Nigerian Institution of Estate Surveyors and Valuers (NIESV) have urged the private sector to complement the efforts of the federal government in providing housing to the teeming populace.

The estate surveyors made the plea during a press conference to usher in the National Housing Summit being organized by NIESV’s Faculty of Housing in Lagos on the theme: ‘Housing As a Catalyst for Economic Development.’ The body believes that the amendment of the Land Use Act will remove the clog in the wheel of housing development.

Vice Chairman of the faculty, Mr. Biodun Odeleye explained, “our economy is no doubt growing economically, infact one of the fastest growing economies in the world as at now. The growth, therefore, has to be holistic, affecting every facet of the economy. Housing has remained one of the biggest challenges of the economy in view of the massive shortage in the system.

“Home ownership is a great challenge to Nigerians in urban and rural areas. This emanates from the high cost associated with land, building materials as well as taxes and statutory charges.”

He said that the year’s theme would focus on housing as a factor for accelerating economic growth. “It intends to highlight the importance of housing in the present economic age and how housing can drastically alleviate the challenge of unemployment in Nigeria, as well as improve the socio-economic status of the citizenry.

“A greater percentage of the social and economic life of our nation take place in houses, hence, the necessity of housing to the health and well being of the national cannot be over emphasized.”

The summit plans to x-ray the housing magic of Singapore; where over 90 per cent of the housing stocks are on owner-occupier status, thereby reducing housing shortage to a very low rate. Minister of Housing of Singapore, Dr. Lin Yuan will deliver a paper on An Exposition of Singapore’s home Ownership Scheme, What imperatives for Nigeria.

Similarly, Nigerian Minister of Lands, Housing and urban Development, Mrs. Akon Eyakenyi will deliver a keynote address on ‘The Place of Housing in the Transformation Agenda’. Other speakers include NIESV past president, Mr. Bode Adediji and Managing Director, Mortgage Refinance Company of Nigeria, Mr. Sonnie Ayere.

Credit: Guardian Newspaper