LAGOS- Mr. Segun Ajanlekoko, Regional President for Africa, Commonwealth Association of Surveying and Land Economy (CASLE), has advocated a holistic approach to the provision of housing for Nigerians.
Ajanlekoko told newsmen in Lagos that he was surprised that 48 years after the country’s independence, the issue of housing was still being treated with levity.
He said that the provision of housing should involve government at all levels, adding that conscious efforts should be made to provide housing for the middle class citizens.
He cited the case of Malaysia, a former British colony like Nigeria, which he said had a surplus of over 3 million houses due to careful planning and commitment of its government to the provision of housing to the citizens.
“I have been opportuned to visit Malaysia and was astounded that the country, which has the same pedigree as our country has a housing surplus of over 3 million,” he said.
Reports say that CASLE is an international umbrella body of Land Surveyors, Geomatics Surveyors, Estate Surveyors and Valuers and Quantity Surveyors with a focus to ensure sustainability of housing and Land tenure reforms.
He said that Nigeria needed serious commitment from the government and the private sector to solve the housing problems confronting its middle class citizens.
Ajanlekoko called for the amendment of the Land Use Act to minimise bottlenecks associated with land ownership, saying that there was no way funds would flow into the housing sector if the bottlenecks were not resolved.
According to him, there is need for a clear policy from government to encourage joint venture with the private sector to ensure the provision of houses on a large scale basis.
He also called for the development of the local materials to ensure availability of affordable, but quality building materials, stating that there was need to also simplify housing designs.
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