Experts to offer housing solutions at Lagos event

•Kogi seeks better deal for citizens

Experts are to dissect the financial and regulatory challenges in the way of achieving the Federal Government’s Renewed Hope Agenda on Housing at the forthcoming yearly 2024 Property and Environment Writers Association of Nigeria (PEWAN) conference in Lagos.

Themed “Resolving the Financial and Regulatory Dilemma in Achieving the Renewed Hope Agenda on Housing”, the programme would attract the Managing Director of the Federal Mortgage Bank of Nigeria (FMBN), Shehu Usman Osidi, as keynote speaker, and Managing Director of UPDC, Odunayo Ojo as guest speaker, while chairman of the event is former president of Nigerian Institute of Building (NIOB), Mr Kunle Awobodu.

Other industry leaders expected at the event are Lagos State Commissioner for Physical Planning and Urban Development, Dr Oluyinka Abiodun Olumide, President of International Real Estate Federation, Nigeria Chapter (FIABCI), Akin Opatola, General Manager of Lagos State Building Control Agency (LASBCA), Gbolahan Oki, and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Pecksgrey Group, Dr Oluremi Olukoya.

The rest are the Group Head of Corporate Communications, Dangote Industries Limited, Tony Chijiena, who will be presenting a paper at the conference; the CEO, Lagos State Development and Property Company (LSDPC), and Sam Ogrih, founder and Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of Delta Mega Trend Limited, owners of Plantation City, Warri, Delta State.

The event, billed for November 28, would be held at Conference Room 1, Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI), Alausa, Ikeja.Speaking on the conference, the Chairman of PEWAN, Mrs Okwy Iroegbu-Chikezie, explained that it was to chart pathways towards increasing housing provision in the country and bridge the huge deficit estimated at 28 million, as well as dismantling the limitations to effective production by increasing access to low-cost financing and also focusing on the Federal Government’s housing agenda.

According to her, a major highlight of the forum would be the presentation of awards to deserving stakeholders who have distinguished themselves in the area of housing provision, regulation and professional services.

Also, the Kogi Ministry of Housing and Urban Development is organising a two-day symposium to better the housing sector in the state. Announcing the event yesterday, the Commissioner for Housing and Urban Development, Taiye Abanika, said the programme, with the theme, “Modern Housing and Urban Renewal in Kogi State”, is to galvanise ideas from stakeholders in the built environment towards the provision of decent and affordable houses for citizens.

He noted that Governor Ahmed Usman Ododo had been working hard towards providing houses for all in the state, particularly the less privileged as part of his campaign promises to the citizens.

He said “200 hectares of land had been provided for the Federal Ministry of Housing and Urban Development and the Federal Housing Authority (FHA) to build over 1,000 housing units in the state.