‘FG is greatest constraint to housing’

This was stated by the Chairman of  Nigerian Institution of Estate Surveyors and Valuers (NIESV) Chief Kola Akomolade during the 2nd National Housing summit held by the institute in collaboration with the Federal Ministry of  Lands, Housing and Urban Development in Abuja.He also chided the Federal Government for the constraints of accessing land for housing […]

This was stated by the Chairman of  Nigerian Institution of Estate Surveyors and Valuers (NIESV) Chief Kola Akomolade during the 2nd National Housing summit held by the institute in collaboration with the Federal Ministry of  Lands, Housing and Urban Development in Abuja.
He also chided the Federal Government for the constraints of accessing land for housing at a price the common man can afford which is anchored on the review of the land use Act which it failed to review.
“The issue of the high cost of building materials can only be addressed on a national level by removing customs and excise duties on building materials will also help reduce the price of finished products. Only the Federal Government has the capacity to do this. In similar vein, the lack of access to mortgage finance at affordable interest rate can only be solved at the federal; level by the institution of a national mortgage system that will make mortgage available loans available for the masses at an affordable rate of interest.”
He commended  former President Shehu Shagari for introducing “food shelter” campaign, adding that no regime thereafter has seen housing as important sector of the economy which is why budgetary allocations to the housing ministry is so insignificant when compared with what goes to health, education, roads and even sports. “This attitude must change if we are to remove the constraints to housing development in the country,” he urged.