The Real Estate Developers Association of Nigeria has called on the Federal Government to explore options that involve investing in rural-urban housing development.
According to the developers, investing in rural-urban housing development would support the nation’s economic growth.
The developers which were represented by the President, Dr Aliyu Wamakko said efforts can be made to reverse the current recession by reviving housing development as it does not require long incubation periods to yield a return on investment.
Wamakko made this known at the second Jakande Housing Lecture Series speaking on the theme ‘Still on affordable and decent housing in Nigeria’. He said that there was an urgent need to provide affordable housing for rural-urban dwellers so as to help in cushioning the effect of the pandemic as well as the economic recession.
“COVID-19 pandemic brought its challenges on the housing sub-sector. The initial protocols were to ‘stay at home and wash hands regularly’. The question remained, was it feasible to adhere to such protocols when the populace have no adequate shelter with requisite infrastructure amongst which is water to wash hands?”
Government Housing schemes
Speaking on previous housing schemes set up by the government, Wamakko said that although the schemes were made to improve the housing sub-sector, it has not yielded many results as the housing deficit, especially among the poor, remains high.
Wamakko’s words; “Government policies at all levels need to be re-defined. While we commend the Federal Government’s plan to build 300,000 housing units under the Economic Sustainability Programme, such policy formulation deserves comprehensive analysis.
“As the populous country in the African continent, the time to stem the housing deficit is now. It is no longer news that Nigeria has once again entered its second recession in five years occasioned by the economic fallout of the COVID-19 pandemic amongst other things.”
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“Housing development requires strategic and holistic planning. Government is therefore called upon to support Rural-Urban Housing Initiative (RUHI-774), aimed at developing at least 100 housing units in each of the 774 Local Government Councils of the Federation including the FCT.” He added.
In a nutshell, Wamakko urged the government to do the needful by making sure investment in affordable housing for rural-urban dwellers actually happens as a number of schemes set up by the government in the past failed. According to him, concentrating on stimulating the economy via massive housing construction and infrastructure development is crucial.
The Association President also lamented about the quality of housing infrastructure in Nigeria, where residents do not have access to hygienic sanitation facilities as well as access to water. In his words, there is serious work to be done in the area of housing in Nigeria.
About Aliyu Wammako
Alhaji Dr Aliyu Wamakko is a retired customs officer who is now into real estate development; an educationist and also a security expert. He is currently the Chief Executive Officer, JEDO Mass Housing Estate with about 700 houses and the President of Real Estate Developers Association of Nigeria (REDAN).
Wamakko holds a degree from the University of Lagos and a Higher National Diplomas in Accounting, and Co-operative from the Polytechnic of Sokoto state. He is a member of the Chartered Institute of Administration and also has a Diploma in Data Processing.
He is directly involved in numerous capital raising and financial advisory activities and oversees one of the fastest-growing investment management businesses in the Nigerian industry. Wamakko is also a philanthropist and a mentor, making a positive impact in the lives of so many Nigerians.
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