NIESV seeks vertical housing development

The Nigerian Institution of Estate Surveyors and Valuers, (NIESV) has urged housing ministries at federal and state levels to adopt vertical development for increased building spread and infrastructural growth.

The institution also advised government to consider vertical development model to improve housing provision rather than the current low built designs.

Making the call during an interactive session with newsmen in Lagos, the new NIESV Chairman, Lagos branch, Mr. Dotun Bamigbola said that if vertical development is implemented in other locations other than the high brow Ikoyi or Lagos mainland, a lot of people will be able to use the same infrastructural facility better and save the rate of land use.

Bamigbola urged President Muhammadu Buhari to separate the ministry of housing from the power and works ministries and ensures that a core professional as a minister to attain efficiency in the sector supervises it.
He also advised the federal government to reduce high mortgage system in the country to enable more people have access to homes.

The Lagos NIESV chairman said government should concentrate on mortgage securitisation to enable Nigerians irrespective of status to own a home. The chairman said this would in promote rapid housing development as well as create both skilled and unskilled jobs in the economy.

He further stated that the association had requested for an expanded use of the pension fund for housing development in the country as it is done in other climes.

On the menace of building collapse, Bamigbola stressed that the Lagos state government should step up its manpower development, enforce law and embark urban regeneration plan to find a lasting solution to such incidents assuring that the practitioners are ready to partner government.

“ In areas with old buildings, government should look at areas where there old buildings to subject them for urban regeneration plan. Government should think about transforming such locations with old buildings for instance in Mushin and Yaba from been a death trap for the people to something beneficial. The collapse infrastructure should be look at”, he said.

Also speaking, a member of the association, Mr. Gbenga Ismail emphasised that for Nigerians to own their own homes, there must be access to land.

Present at the forum are, unofficial member, Mr. Biodun Olapade, the association honourary secretary, Oyeniyi Olagoke, the vice chairman, Mrs. Demola -Alade Olabisi, Gbenga Ismail and publicity secretary, Ewenla Mustapha among others.