By Echeburu Oby
Provision of decent but affordable housing for the mass of Nigerians has been a hard nut to crack for many years. Both government and private persons have proffered diverse solutions to the problem and policies have been enunciated by different governments. Yet the journey to housing a great number of Nigerians at the lower rung of the social ladder has remained far away.
If a problem with long-time sought out solution remains unsolved, it means something fundamental is not just right. Probably, the purported solutions are not workable or people entrusted with the responsibility of driving processes are failing in their work.
During electioneering, actors in the current administration promised to do things differently. One of the major things they singled out was production of a million housing units per annum. This greatly warmed the hearts of Nigerians.
Apparently, tackling housing is one area any government can easily endear itself to the people and enjoy popularity because a large chunk of the income goes to securing accommodation. A people who get housing at reduced cost have a good measure of their earnings freed for use on constantly emerging needs and wants.
It is for this reason that government’s plan for mass housing should enjoy topmost priority. This is the best thing to do. And it is achievable. But it can be achieved only if the right persons are in the saddle.
Now that President Muhammadu Buhari has returned for a second term, he should garner the support of all his well wishers who have deep knowledge in housing development to take positions of responsibility. Many of such persons with knack for accelerated housing development abound and should be quickly brought on board.
One professional who has given all his time to housing development is Mallam Ahmed Abubakar Goringo, an architect whose contributions in the sector are humongous.
As a member of the Real Estate Developers Association of Nigeria (REDAN) and an environmentalist, Goringo has not only advocated affordable housing, but has also added to the country’s housing stock in what might be termed bridging the housing gap.
Time is now for President Buhari to fast-track the affordable housing process by engaging passionate professionals like Goringo so the target of producing a million housing units in a year can be achieved.
Echeburu Oby
34 Shetima Mongonu Crescent, Plot 218 Utako District, Abuja
