House of Reps Urge FG to Provide Verifiable data on Housing Deficit
The House of Representatives has asked the Federal Government (FG) to ensure scientific, verifiable data on the housing deficit in the country is provided.
The lawmakers reached this decision on Tuesday’s plenary after a motion on “Provision of affordable housing in Nigeria,” sponsored by the member representing Ikono/Ini Federal Constituency of Akwa Ibom State, Emmanuel Ukpong-Udo, was adopted.
Ukpong-Udo stressed that the data will help in planning and executing projects across all levels of government.
The House also held that the data will help in improving access to affordable housing in Nigeria.
“The housing sector in Nigeria, with a huge deficit, lacks veritable data for planning and execution of housing policies and strategies.
“The house is aware that according to the world population review, over 24 million people in Nigeria are homeless, with no appropriate access to proper dwelling with some basic social amenities.
“The house is worried that Nigeria is among the top 10 countries with homeless populations, leading with 24 million, followed by Pakistan, Egypt, Syria, and Congo,” Ukpong-Udo said.
Nigeria presently depends on the World Bank report for housing data, a trend the House notes is worrisome.
“There is a need to have its housing data as well as a market that works efficiently and provides decent shelter for its citizens,” Ukpong-Udo added.
The House has now tasked its Committee on Housing and Habitat to collaborate with the Federal Ministry of Housing and Urban Development to tackle the issues underlined in the motion and ensure affordable housing is affordable in Nigeria
