Estate surveyors task government on social housing

Estate Surveyors and Valuers under the auspices of the Nigerian Institution of (NIESV), Ogun State Chapter have appealed to government at all levels to see housing as a social issue and give housing accommodation, especially for the low-income group a top priority.

The association said the performance of the housing sector especially that of the housing construction industry is the barometer by which the health or ill-health of any nation is measured.

Chairman of the chapter, Mr. S.A. Shobanke who spoke on behalf of the institution in Abeokuta said housing is a set of durable assets which account for higher proportion of a country’s wealth and on which a household spend a substantial part of their income.He called for urgent assistance for low income earners who can neither build, buy or rent to be “substantially” assisted by the governments.

Shobanke , who spoke at a briefing to highlight the activities lined up for the association’s 218 week, insisted that governments should subsidise the provision of housing accommodation to low -income earners to avoid homelessness”.

“This concept of social housing is what we professionals are canvassing for, to be undertaken by governments “, he affirmed.He advised members of the public to patronise only registered estate surveyors and valuers to ensure safety of their property.

His words: “property acquisition and purchase is about the single largest and most expensive investment that can be undertaken by any individual at a time, and this should be placed in the hands of qualified professionals and not in the hands of charlatans or quacks, to safe guard such investments.

Registered Estate Surveyors and Valuers are trained, equipped and skilled in providing real estate services in all its ramifications. Hence, they should be consulted when it comes to real estate and related issues”, he added.Shobanke further explained that the week was part of the institution’s efforts to propagate its activities and services to members of the public.