By Kingsley U.N Chikwendu
For many low or average income families, home ownership is a dream that they long aspire to meet but, the huge demanding cash that comes with starting such project has made this dream an unfulfilled aspiration. However, one may say that succor may be on the horizon, going by the ongoing construction of 300,000 housing units under the Economic Sustainability Program by the Nigerian government, on a rent to own basis, to enable these low income earners get their own homes.
Government-backed affordable housing schemes in the country have largely been confined to areas regarded as slums with high concentration of poverty, poor housing and environmental conditions over the decades. This is a good sign because, it is one of the areas that have been long segregated in housing and environmental development plans.
These are slums facing rising criminal activities, lack of good nutrition and health. The lack of affordable housing in these parts of the country has made life a difficult one for the inhabitants. The lack of a good or improved means of livelihood in these places has restricted many from leaving. That is one of the reasons that this move, the construction of these social housing units by the government is welcome and will be more appreciated if it will see to its quick completion and handed over to those the scheme was really created for, with more housing programs embarked on.
For equal distribution of houses, these development of affordable housing should also be shifted to high income areas which is believed will afford many low income earners the opportunity to reside amongst the high income families, thereby, putting a stop or curtailing segregation or rising inequalities amongst families.
Also, developers should be encouraged through land allocation and housing policies to create affordable housing in parts of cities that are thought to be reserved for only the higher-income earners and have previously excluded the average and lower-income individuals.
Else, these housing and income inequalities combined, only raises more stakes of inequality and anger towards the elites in our communities. This may be one of the reasons the elites, the rich have been targeted for violence, arm banditry and kidnapping. If the government can address the issue of housing and income inequalities, it will be huge in solving some of the problems the country is facing today.
