Experts task govt on housing crisis, sustainable development

An estate under the National Housing Programme (NHP)

Experts have called on the government to review the Land Use Act as a means to promote homeownership and address sustainable development in the country.

The Director, School of Environmental Studies at the Moshood Abiola Polytechnic (MAPOLY) Abeokuta, Dr. Samson Agbato, who made the appeal ahead of its third International Conference on Sustainable Built Environment and Innovative Development in the 21st century, said the critical challenges facing the country is shortage of housing, which is affecting both rural and urban areas.

Agbato, a fellow of the Nigerian Institute of Estate Surveyors and Valuers (NIESV), said the conference would explore innovative approaches to construction materials that are both cost-effective and environment friendly, as well as address land-related challenges, which remained a crucial step towards addressing the housing shortage.

He urged the government to revamp mortgage institutions to better serve the needs of Nigerians, especially low-income earners or no income earners. According to him, there is the need for substantial and accessible funding mechanisms in the housing sector, despite the Federal Mortgage Bank of Nigeria (FMBN) increasing its National Housing Fund (NHF) loan from N15 million to N45 million.

Agbato wants the government to establish a framework that ensures more participation in the fund, as well as provision of long-term loans for developers. “We need a long-term loan to fund a long-term project, that’s why the mortgage industry must come alive. So, the government must revitalise mortgage institutions,” he said.

The Chairman, Conference Planning Committee, Dr. Akinwunmi Baiyewu, an architect, said the conference is aimed at generating solutions for building a sustainable environment in alignment with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Baiyewu attributed building collapse to lack of professionals’ supervision and advocated new building control processes to curb the menace.

Among the speakers is Prof. Kola Akinsanmi of School of Construction and Management, University of Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa, Prof. B.T Aluko of the Department of Estate Management, Faculty of Environmental Science, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Osun State. The event will be chaired by NIESV First Vice President, Mr. Victor Alonge.