Stakeholders in the built environment have expressed divergent views on government’s housing policy suggesting that affordable housing is unattainable without federal government subsidising the cost of housing.
They made the submissions through a housing development group platform in Abuja.
Former president of Nigerian Institute of Town Planners (NITP) Mr Steve Onu disclosed that affordable housing in a private sector driven environment would not be achieved without subsidy.
He said the modus of affordable housing programmes in Nigeria is incomparable with those in other countries.
The vice chairman of Council of Registered Builders of Nigeria (CORBON), Mr Samson Opaluwah argued that the components of a building are more than bricks, concrete, wood and mortar.
According to him, “Let’s carefully look at the supply side of building materials. Where will the reinforcements come from?
“Is Ajaokuta producing? What is the annual local production of iron rods?
“Are we going to depend on imports?” he asked.
He queried the total local production volume of plumbing fittings, cables, lighting fittings, seasoned timber and paint among others.
Opaluwah pointed out that experiences of failed programmes in the country should serve as a springboard for success in the nearest future.
While calling on government and stakeholders to restrategise on affordable housing programmes, he drummed support for well-articulated programme.
Also a developer, Mr Adewunmi Towolawi Okupe noted that if the cost of houses is targeted at a particular income group, affordable housing would be achieved.
He stated that a tenant who lived in a rented apartment for over 20 years must have paid more than enough to build the house.
Okupe pointed out that design of houses should target the low income group with a monthly payment structure of not more than one-third of their monthly income, which he believed would make the houses affordable for the group.
Giving a breakdown on N100 billion housing intervention fund, he emphasised that 967 units of housing could be built annually with subscribers’ monthly payment. ‘
He stated that a minimum of 45,000 three-bedroom houses could be built with N100 billion at the cost of N6 million each.
Okupe suggested that the fund could be set on autopilot to produce 5,000 three-bedroom houses yearly after the initial 16,667 three-bedroom houses or more if the fund would be used for the construction of one and two-bedroom houses for low income earners.
The principal consultant on value chain project, Mr. Joshua Egbagbe said that the consulting firm carried out a research on value chain-driven model of off-takers with active support of the German Government Sustainable Economic Development Pro-Poor Agency (GIZ).
He said that plans are underway to officially publish the multi-pager research result adding that some state governments, organisations and stakeholders have validated the concept and commenced implementation at little or no cost.
Egbagbe maintained that the firm has developed fully automated, web and mobile apps and software as well as fully integrated digital platforms for scalability and maximum off-takers profiling. Leadership
