It has been revealed that it will take the country over 17 years to bridge the housing deficit and that is if a million housing units are constructed yearly, coming across as not palatable for advocates of housing development in Nigeria.
This revelation was made at the summit for national housing and slum upgrading in Abuja, targeted at developing strategies and policies for transformation in the housing sector.
However, the Vice President, Namadi Sambo who also attended the summit gave the assurance that the federal government is developing a national strategy for mass housing delivery and slum upgrade, while reiterating the commitment of the Goodluck Jonathan administration to reducing the estimated 17 million housing deficit in the country, with the “promotion of sustainable urbanization and implementation of the universal principles for slum upgrading and prevention, in line with articulated sectorial, policies and strategies.”
He commended the Federal Ministry of Lands, Housing and Urban Development, including other development partners for supporting the Transformation Agenda, particularly regarding the provision of affordable housing for the citizenry.
The summit was convened to provide a platform for stakeholders to rub minds and propose innovative and adaptable strategies for suitable housing delivery and slum upgrading in the country.