NIESV Agrees with Fashola on Need for Accurate Data Bank for Housing The Nigerian Institution of Estate Surveyors and Valuers (NIESV) Thursday in Abuja corroborated the assertion of the Minister of Works and Housing, Mr.  Babatunde Fashola, SAN that Nigeria does not have a 17million housing deficit. President of NIESV, ESV Emmanuel Okas Wike, who corroborated the long-held standpoint when the Institution paid a courtesy visit to the Minister, said the body was in full agreement with the Minister on the fact that the figure which had been bandied in the country for a long time had no scientific proof. The NIESV President in his opening remarks at the Ministry’s Conference Room in Mabushi, told the Minister, “We are in total agreement with you on the unreliability of the 17million housing deficit being brandished in Nigeria for lacking scientific proof. We are using this opportunity to reaffirm the importance of data bank and our commitment to the provision of property data bank for all state capitals and major cities in Nigeria.’’ He disclosed that plans were ongoing to carry out enumeration of wasting and abandoned properties across the state capitals, most of which, according to him, belongs to government at various levels, adding that the Institute would then make recommendations on what could be done with them. In his remarks, Fashola said, ‘there is more demand in housing due to people that move from rural areas to urban centres to squat in the city, and when demand exceeds supply there will be scarcity adding that the solution lay in having accurate data of empty houses in the cities. The Minister, who expressed delight that the endorsement by NIESV on the non-existence of the 17 million housing deficit in Nigeria put an authoritative seal on the controversy, charged the Institute to come up with accurate data on the housing issue adding that such a data would help towards solving the housing problem. While commenting on the Land Use Act, the Minister said, “The law is not the problem, it is not enough to say repeal the law, the communities fighting over land resulted in enacting the Land Use Act. Every section of the Land Use Act has been interpreted by the Supreme Court. Administration of the law is the problem rather than the law itself.” ...

Built Industry has progressed despite COVID 19 –Fashola The Honourable Minister of Works and Housing, Babatunde Raji Fashola (SAN) has said that despite the socio economic consequences of Covid 19 pandemic, operatives of the built industry have continued to make progress. The Minister who was the guest speaker at the 15th Abuja International Housing Show said this while delivering his speech. Fashola said, *“Even as our country, as indeed the entire World is still grappling with the social – economic consequences of the Covid – 19 pandemic, I have nothing but progress to report about how the built industry operatives, professionals and other stakeholders have contributed to increasing the stock of affordable and accessible home ownership in a pre and post –Covid era.”* The Minister who was represented by the Honourable Minister of State for Works and Housing Engineer, Abubakar D. Aliyu (FNSE), at the occasion hinged his view on the activitvites of stakeholders in the sector such as the National Housing programme, (NHP) of the Federal government which is aimed at constructing acceptable and affordable houses nationwide He disclosed that a total of 1,021 building contractors have been engaged under phases 1 an 11 of the programme since its inception in 2016 and 13, 680 and 41, 040 direct and indirect jobs have been generated. He added that the Ministry of Works and Housing had undertaken the construction of 4,694 housing units, out of which 2,249 units have been completed in 34 states and the Federal Capital Territory, (FCT) with a total of 41 sites spread over the 34 states and the FCT. Other activities of the Ministry include: housing development through Public Private Partnership (PPP) initiatives, Site and Services across the States, houses delivered by the Federal Housing Authority, FHA and the Federal Mortgage Bank of Nigeria both of which are Parastatals of the Ministry. In her goodwill message, the Honourable Minister of State for Works and Housing, Ghana, Freda Prempeh noted that the unprecedented negative economic impact of  Covid -19 pandemic had resulted in global economic recession which had greatly affected the urban poor and informal sector thereby worsening the housing problem globally.  She advised that social housing schemes must, as a matter of necessity, be given top priority by governments while boosting local production of building materials to generate employment. The Chairman of the occasion, Surveyor Suleiman Hassan Zarma (MNIS), former Minister of State for Power, Works and Housing emphasized the need to provide affordable housing for the populace as a way of preventing the spread of Covid -19 which can occur when people are not adequately housed. The Minister of Environment, Dr Muhammed Mahmood Abubakar spoke on the correlation between housing and climate change. He called on stakeholders in the built industry to ensure that international standards are met when putting up a building so that it can stand the test of time especially in the face of the danger that climate change portends.  He described the threat of climate change as a pandemic worse than the corona virus pandemic if not carefully handled. In his welcome address, the convener of the event, Barrister Festus Adebayo disclosed that the conference which has the theme “Sustainable and Resilient Housing Solution for a post – pandemic World” would explore different innovations and requirements that can effectively position housing as a tool in combating the epidemic on the single premise that the World has finally come to the realization of the importance of housing and the environment He further said that the conference would also consider the involvement of the youths in designing the future of affordable housing as well as the matter of housing data for effective planning and delivery Highlight of the occasion was the presentation of awards by the Honourable Minister of state for Works and Housing given to   governors of Lagos, Yobe and Borno States as well as the Honourable Minister of State for Works and Housing,Ghana, Preda Prempeh  Boade Akinola Director Press and Public Relations  27th July, 2021   ...

Fashola Inaugurates FHA Board * Urges them to situate their contributions around FG’s policy thrust of providing affordable houses The Minister of Works and Housing, Mr. Babatunde Fashola, SAN Thursday inaugurated the Board of Directors of the Federal Housing Authority (FHA) and urged them to situate their contributions around the Federal Government’s policy thrust of providing affordable houses for Nigerians. Inaugurating the Board members in Abuja, Fashola said that what the board has Brought to the fore was the diversity of its composition. He said: “It speaks vehemently to the diversity of our country.  The six geo-political zones of the country are well represented. It shows that every zone is represented.” He added that gender equality was also considered in the recommendation for the appointment of the Board members, pointing out that it would bring about more robust policies from the Board for the good of the entire country. Speaking on the composition of the Board, he said that it was composed of prolific politicians, strong media representatives, strong grassroots mobilizers, legal practitioners and a strong presence of professionals and experts in the real estate industry who had actually built houses. “With this composition, it looks to me a very exciting time for the Federal Housing Authority and I hope the Chairman and the members will do their best,” he said. Speaking on a broader perspective on the Federal Government’s Economic Recovery and Growth Plan (ERGP), Fashola stated that part of it was to use infrastructure as a way of building and expanding Nigeria’s economy adding that provision of affordable houses was part of it. “Also some of the things the Plan set out to do is to build a global competitive economy and infrastructure is one of the ways to do so,” he said.  While appreciating the contributions of the former members of the Board who had served the nation judiciously for three years, he called on the newly constituted board members to help in restoring the glory and value of Federal Housing Authority old estates like the FESTAC Town and Gwarinpa estates. The members of the newly inaugurated Board are: Senator Lawal Shuabu as Chairman from Zamfara State, Babaginda Hussaini, the Permanent Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Works and Housing from Jigawa, Modestus Umenzekwe from Anambra, Mumini I. Hanafi from Kwara, Adamu Maina Dadi fromYobe, Engr. Adamu Ismaila from Adamawa and Barrister Zubairu S.N from Nasarawa as members. Other members include, Chinyere Anokwuru from Abia, Yinka Ogunsulire from Ondo, Veronica N. Shinnaan from Plateau, Aleruchi Cookey-Gam from Rivers and Olajumoke Akinwunmi from Ogun State. The new members have three years tenure to serve. Responding, the Chairman of the newly constituted Board who pledged the best of service from the board members, said that with the composition of the board they were going to move Federal Housing Authority forward with good policies. “I want to assure you that with the kind of composition the board has now, we are going to move Federal Housing Authority forward because we have the best and what it takes to make good policies,” he said. He further said that the board was made up of Legal minds, professionals and experts in the housing sector saying that: “The board inaugurated today is a machine that can move Federal Housing Authority in the direction of the Federal Government policy on affordable and decent houses for Nigerians,” he said. While he thanked the Minister for counting them worthy of recommendation, he commended Mr. President for the prompt approval of the recommendation. The event was attended by the Honourable Minister of State for Works and Housing, Engr. Abubakar D. Aliyu, FNSE, the Chairman House Committee on Housing and Habitat, Honourable Mustapha Dawaki, the Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of Federal Housing Authority, Senator Gbenga Ashafa and officials of the Ministry, Federal Housing Authority and Federal Mortgage Bank of Nigeria.   ...