FG worries over increasing number of Nigerians living in slums

THE Federal Government FG on Monday expressed worries over the increasing number of Nigerians living in slums and substandard houses.

It said the population kept increasing despite policies of the Federal Government to providing affordable housing in the country.

Minister of Water Resources, Engr Suleiman Adamu, stated this at the 28th edition of Arch built exhibition in Abuja themed: “Promoting the Development of Building Materials and Services for the Nigerian Market,” organized by the Nigeria Institute of Architects (NIA).

He stressed the need for affordable housing for the average Nigerians.

Adamu said: “The housing deficits have been mentioned and the quality of houses in our slums. The kinds of habitations we have in this 21st century are quiet disturbing. I noticed that we are getting more slums every day, everywhere has slums that exist.

“There is strong divide, either you at the high end or the low end of the economy. The living conditions of those at the low end are deteriorating every day. So there is a huge challenge to ensure we provide affordable houses and decent living for our people.  We cannot continue to have people living in thatched and mud houses. We all have relatives in the villages and we know how they are living, so I don’t need to say more.”

The Minister also noted the need for domestication of foreign housing technologies to make raw materials in the building sector cheap and affordable.

According to him, States and federal government can no longer invest much in social infrastructure due to the foreign exchange.

“I just came back from Ondo State where we held the National Council Meeting last week. All the water schemes were done either in the colonial period or 1960s. There has been no investment in the water sector of late. So, this issue of local component is very dear to us. It is not only in architecture but everywhere. It is a big challenge,” the Minister added.

He identified need for synergy among professional associations, research institutes and the industry to salvage the housing challenge in the country.

In his remarks, the NIS President, Arc Tonye Braide, advised that resolutions be put together by stakeholders to create sustainable solutions for housing deficit.

He said there was need to infuse the idea in real life projects, adding that the nation could achieve affordable housing.

“If you look at what is disposable income and about 30 per cent of that income could be used to get an affordable home. The element is to get four corners of a wall around yourself and a roof over your head. Though, it depends on the size and number of people in the room,” Braide said.

However, he reaffirmed that domesticating foreign building technologies would increase markets and create jobs.