Owerri – Mr Martin Amadi, an estate manager, has said that corruption remains the major setback to achieving housing for all programme in the country.
Amadi, Managing Director, Echo Grand Group of Companies, an Abuja-based Real Estate firm, stated this in Owerri on Friday in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN).
He said rather than render selfless service, public officials entrusted with the assignment allegedly diverted the monies and used it to build structures in parts of major cities.
“In Abuja, there are many buildings wasting without anybody residing in them because these structures were built with monies the owners cannot openly account for, “ he said.[pro_ad_display_adzone id=”70560″]
He said that because of the ongoing anti-corruption campaign, the owners of some buildings are were refusing to identify with them.
Amadi called on government to make transparent and more realistic housing policy that would favour low-income earners.
“In most parts of the satellite towns of Abuja, the cost of renting accommodation has gone beyond the reach of an average civil servant and the problem has resulted in people vacating their buildings.
“In Kubwa, for instance, one bedroom flat now goes for N150,000 per annum; at Sun Estate, a three-bedroom goes for N1.5 million per year and a lot of people cannot afford these rents.
“Public office holders should stop excessive quest for wealth; we should try to be open and honest.
“We should try and protect the interests of the masses so as to enable most Nigerians to have roofs on their heads, “ Amadi said. (NAN)
