By Jummai Abu
Abandoned buildings are serious problems in a society. Sometimes, such places serve as points where nefarious and immoral activities like smoking of dangerous substances, rape, prostitution, kidnapping and rituals are carried out. One of the joys of a homeowner is to stay comfortably in an environment with no criminal acts happening. It offers consciousness of safety, security, good hygienic or healthy environments and comfort.
As a homeowner, you are tasked with maintaining and increasing the value of your properties and surrounding environment, hoping that the property may soon be put up for sale in the foreseeable future. Considering the efforts that one may put in the maintenance of a property, some negative factors beyond one’s control can have some negative effects on the value of the properties.
Not only are uncompleted buildings not good at sight, they serve as places where the homeless may decide to go take refuge in, some persons usually see uncompleted buildings as places where they can go and excrete. These affect the structure or lifespan of the buildings. Most of these uncompleted structures are unkept, looking dirty. Some are surrounded by bushes within and outside and with this, they serve as breeding grounds or homes for infectious insects and reptiles.
Relating this with the Nigerian capital, Abuja, there are sights of abandoned buildings. Places like Maitama, Garki, Asokoro and other parts of the city have become a habour of criminals and the homeless who can easily be attacked at any time. The Nigerian government need to look into it because residents leaving around such areas may be at risk.
If the Minister of the FCT can deplore officials to visit and investigate uncompleted structures, with actions taken, it will aid in reducing crimes in the city.
In curtailing the increase of uncompleted buildings, friendly policies should be made by the government to enable intending or prospective homeowners to complete their houses, maybe, through the help of friendly mortgages.
This will help in keeping our environments safe as there would be no hideouts or points for persons like drug dealers, prostitutes and the homeless will not expose themselves to danger by seeking shelter in uncompleted buildings.
