Stakeholders hold divergent views over accommodation gap in Nigeria

IS accommodation problem in Nigeria revolves around the size of the deficit, cost of the houses, or the pointing of fingers on what to do and what not to?

These are the questions that require honest answers if accommodation problem in Nigeria would be solved, observed the industry players.

Issue of housing problems in Nigeria has become subject of discussions at nearly every programmes or events organised by professional bodies in the built environment in the country, be it by the architects, surveyors, builders, even, engineers, among others.

This same issue came up just last week during the annual Council Meeting of Lands, Housing and Urban Development, held in Gombe, Gombe State capital, where professionals and government officials tabled different positions.

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Going by the theme of the programme titled: “The Provision of Affordable Housing: A Catalyst for Development and Sustainable Economic Growth’, Minister of Power, Works and Housing, Mr. Babatunde Fashola, in his address noted that very often, when the discussion about shortage of housing begins, it either revolves around the size of the deficit or the cost of the houses, or the pointing of fingers as to who should do what and has not done so.

“Very rarely do those discussions bring up solutions or action points.  Problems clearly cannot be solved by simply talking about them.

“Let me first, indulge those who spend their time on the debate about the size of the deficit and ask how educated and informed that debate is. “Who conducted the census that produced the figures in the deficit? Who verified the figures that now seem to trap many of our people in a vortex of difficulty? Does the deficit take into account the empty and unoccupied houses in every State of Nigeria?