The Nigerian Institution of Estate Surveyors and Valuers has disclosed plans to draw the attention of all relevant stakeholders to issues capable of derailing the Federal Government’s housing programme aimed at constructing 10,000 houses in each state of the federation.

The Chairman, Faculty of Housing, NIESV, Biodun Odeleye, said there was a need for the government to ensure that the project work by reducing to the barest minimum corruption, while keeping focus on building houses that would meet the needs of the people.

He said, “We learnt of a proposal in some quarters for 10,000 housing units to be built in each state of the federation, including the Federal Capital Territory. Such appears a giant step and a quantum leap towards getting out of the housing quagmire in Nigeria.

“This proposed project will supply about 37,000 housing units into the housing market, which implies that in about 54 phases of similar exercise, Nigeria would get pulled out of her housing deficits. Combining the efforts of the private sector, Nigeria may come out of her housing crisis earlier than projected.

“However, looking at the current economic depression in our country, which has caused tremendous cash squeeze on the government, private sector and individuals; the outlook is unclear as to how to actualise the project. Almost a year since the programme was announced, Nigerians have yet to see genuine efforts towards actualising it.”

Odeleye said the project and other issues affecting the country’s housing sector would form the basis of discussion during the NIESV 5th National Housing Summit, with the theme, ‘10,000 housing units in each state of the federation: Issues and prospects’, to be delivered by the Dean of Environmental Sciences, University of Lagos, Prof. Gbenga Nubi.

According to him, the summit, which holds in Port Harcourt on October 6, will also have sub-themes such as ‘Taming challenges through city regeneration’ and ‘Building a robust housing mortgage system for housing delivery in Nigeria’.

Others are ‘Reducing housing cost through modern housing techniques and construction materials’ and ‘Key roles of professionals in the housing delivery value chain’.

PUNCH.