Minister of Housing and Urban Development, Ahmed Dangiwa, has submitted that the financial ability of individuals has a dual challenge of inadequate housing supply to meet population growth, leading to construction of sub-standard housing in the country.

Dangiwa made submission while declaring open the Africa International Housing Show in Abuja. He said the current state of housing in our continent and country is far from where Nigeria ought to be, and the government should intervene to salvage the situation.

The minister added that housing is a basic need and right of every human being, saying, “this means that our housing delivery strategies must combine urban renewal and the building of new houses to address Africa’s housing challenges.”

He went on: “This is a continent-wide problem. In Nigeria, recent surveys show that 75 per cent, that is, 31.6 million of the 42 million housing units in Nigeria are sub-standard.”

This will help us in developing sustainable and resilient housing solutions that meet the needs of our people.”

Dangiwa stated: “With limited financing, it is important for us as a continent to adopt a ground-up approach and a domestic strategy that takes into consideration the peculiarities of our housing needs. This is the path that we have taken.

“We are aiming at establishing building materials manufacturing hubs in each of the six geo-political zones across the country so that we can lower the cost of construction materials and housing delivery.”

He, therefore, commended the organisers for being consistent in bringing together housing industry stakeholders, policy experts, government and private sector players to the yearly gathering to discuss, share ideas and define solutions to housing challenges.

Earlier, Chairman of the occasion, Pastor Matthew Asimolowo, noted: “As a player in this industry, we’ve always wondered how we can ever raise the size of funding required to bridge the housing deficit .Long term funding suitable for housing sales/finance is hardly available.”

In a goodwill message, Chairman, House Committee on Housing and Habitat, Abdumumin Jibril, argued that there are huge and unlimited assets in the built industry, but no coordination, “and we have duplication of projects.” He added that the private sector has incentive to deliver houses.