LAGOS – The Association of Professional Bodies of Nigeria (APBN) on Friday urged the Federal Government to provide social housing, to check the huge housing deficit in the country. APBN President, Mr Bala Ka’oje, gave the advice in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos.
Ka’oje urged the Federal Government to ensure that its earlier promise on social housing becomes a reality.
NAN recalls that social housing means homes that are owned by local authorities, let at low rents.
The houses are given to those who are most in need or struggling with their housing costs.
“Once the promise of a social housing scheme is realised, many Nigerians will live in decent neighbourhood.
“This is because it will help to reduce the emergence of slums as the houses would have necessary infrastructure and facilities which are lacking in the present schemes. [eap_ad_1] “The government can ensure funds are available for developers to engage in aggressive housing development.
“This can also be done through mortgage arrangements for people who want mortgage loans.
“The recapitalisation of the Federal Mortgage Bank of Nigeria (FMBN) is, therefore, very important for government to achieve more in housing delivery,’’ he said.
Ka’oje said that when government engages in social housing, some of the impediments in the Land Use Act would be surmounted.
He said that it had been difficult for individuals and developers to have access to land for housing development.
The APBN president added it had been difficult to get title documents that would help them source for money to develop the available land.
According to Ka’oje, construction professionals categorise all lands and buildings that do not have title documents as dead property. (NAN)
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