Kingsley U.N Chikwendu
The president of the Real Estate Developers Association of Nigeria [REDAN], Alhaji Aliyu Oroji Wamakko today commended the management of Shelter Afrique, a Pan African Housing Finance Institution led by its Managing Director, Mr Andrew Chimphonda for its role in providing housing for the African continent.
This was made known when the regional representatives, Anglophone West Africa paid REDAN a familiarization visit at its headquarters.
The REDAN president reminded the representatives of Shelter Afrique of his previous interaction he had with the Managing Director, Mr. Chimphonda concerning a project to be carried out by REDAN tagged ‘Rural Urban Housing Initiative’ [RUHI] 774] and aimed at developing 100 housing units across the 774 local government areas in Nigeria.
Also read: Housing crisis: A case for non-indigenes
He said that REDAN saddled with the delivery of housing in Nigeria, currently has almost 3000 registered corporate firms as members of the association who have trained professionals, builders and artisans under their payroll. He added that these members also include small housing providers.
‘On September 11, 2020, I intimated the Managing Director of Shelter Afrique of REDAN’s RUHI 774 which is aimed at developing at least 100 housing units in each of the 774 Local Government Councils of the federation of Nigeria, including the Federal Capital Territory were visible and viable, Wamakko said.
‘The objectives of RUHI 774 amongst others, is to produce Nigerian house by encouraging the use of local materials, thereby, boosting the local content and the development of the Building Materials Production Industrialization’.
Also read: Putting an end to the gulf in societal class can be achieved through affordable housing
He enumerated other benefits that are to come out from the initiative that include the provision of affordable homes to Nigerians within the local communities nationwide, reducing the national housing deficit while it increases stock of housing as a result, decrease slumps in urban centers as well as improving ecological balance and stem the rural-urban migration.
He added that the scheme is projected to provide jobs for the masses and act as a source of inspiration to the youth. ‘Other benefits include creating of at least 2.5 million direct and indirect jobs, mentor young engineers and artisans in the built industry to become estate developers and construction technicians for the resultant benefits of job creation, youth empowerment and improved security network against community crisis’.
Wamakko said lands for the project will be sourced from REDAN members under the REDAN Anchor Developers’ Scheme and state governments through the association’s synergy with the Association of Housing Corporations of Nigeria [AHCN] state governments. He said that the lands will be unencumbered with requisite infrastructure.
He further added that while the imperativeness of the scheme is to make it possible for any Nigerian to own a home at his/her local government of origin or anywhere of their choice in the country, the association has a pool of off takers from the Nigerian Police Force, the Nigerian Immigration Service and other paramilitary bodies in the country. It also includes others like the Nigerian Union of Local Government Employees [NULGE], Nigerian Union of Teachers [NUT] and Nigerians who have keyed into the initiative.
