Minister of State for Power, Works and Housing, Suleiman Hassan Zarma has disclosed that affordable housing and conducive urban environment are yardsticks to measure the degree of the well-being of Nigerians via effective policies.
Zarma stated this in Abuja at a workshop for Real Estate Developers organised by Real Estate Development Association of Nigeria (REDAN)
He added that the lives of Nigerians would be transformed with reasonable returns on investments in the sector.
He added that while government clamoured for the provision of shelter, that there was the need for a proper definition of their roles and responsibilities of the private sector to avoid overlapping and duplication of housing issues in the country.
According to him, “In line with the Administration’s determination to provide shelter and affordable housing to the greater number of citizens, new strategies are undergoing acceptability and affordability test which will guarantee citizens sustainable access to qualitative houses”.
This he said led to the emergence of the Nigerian National Housing project being built by the federal government in each state of the federation whose purpose is to improve the well-being of Nigerians.
Zarma said that strategic housing programmes being embarked by the present administration is aimed at bridging the national housing deficit and renewing the urban centres under the prototype housing scheme and ministerial pilot housing scheme.
He emphasised that the 17 million housing deficit being presented in the country is neither supported by empirical research and survey adding that relevant data would inevitably guide national planning and development, especially in the built industry.
The Minister commended REDAN and other relevant government agencies for midwifing and championing the establishment of National Real Estate Data Collation Programme (NREDCP) whose end results would clearly mitigate the actual housing challenges.
