‘FG, states’ housing policies favour elites’
A former Minister of State for External Affairs, Mr. Dubem Onyia has faulted the federal and state governments housing policies, saying they were meant to favour the elites, especially the political class.
Onyia who spoke in Enugu at the 2016 first Enugu Housing/ Real Estate Development Forum, organized by the Enugu Chamber of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture (ECCIMA), blamed the retarded growth in Nigeria’s housing sector on the domination of the sector by untrained people instead of professionals.
He stated that housing would remain a challenge in the country, except the current policies were reviewed; adding that efforts should be made to accommodate the needs of the poor masses that constitute over 75per cent of the population.
The former Minister regretted that anytime government talks about building a real estate, it is for the elite and not for the low-income earners.
“Housing projects by the Federal and State governments are meant for the elite. You don’t build for the lower class people. I am happy that the Commissioner for Housing in Enugu State is here. I want to see that by the end of this programme, the common man in Nigeria will have hope for affordable housing”, he said.
President of ECCIMA, Ugo Chime said the chamber working with Real Estate Development Association of Nigeria (REDAN) chose to invite all stakeholders not only in improving housing but creating employment in the country.
Chime said they were training to artisans with the support of UKAID because they believe that unskilled work force were key stakeholders in the housing sector.
Citing the experience of South-Africa and United States where the real estate sector contributes 60 per cent and 65 per cent respectively to their Gross Domestic Product (GDP), the ECCIMA President expressed the belief that housing development could save the country from recession and put her back to the path of economic growth and sustainable development.
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1 Comments
PMB must continue to tightened the noose on the looters. He must plug the holes in the economy where it is leaking. There is no need to fear the political elite. Gradually all the sources of their graft money will dry up . Hopefully people are gradually becoming aware of their right to question more and demand an answer from their government. Nigeria will eventually overcome
We will review and take appropriate action.