Housing campaign begins Wed

The Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Fasdab Communications, organizer of Abuja Housing Show, Barr Festus Adebayo on Friday told Daily Trust that now is time to negotiate with political office seekers. “The people must get a commitment from them [candidates] before they enter offices. We want leaders that will sincerely prioritise housing development in the […]

The Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Fasdab Communications, organizer of Abuja Housing Show, Barr Festus Adebayo on Friday told Daily Trust that now is time to negotiate with political office seekers.
“The people must get a commitment from them [candidates] before they enter offices. We want leaders that will sincerely prioritise housing development in the interest of the Nigerian masses.” he said.
He appealed to Nigerians: “Please join the Abuja Housing Show in its street-to-street campaign as from Wednesday, Jan. 13, 2015.
“We want Nigerians to vote leaders that will sincerely work for the development of the housing sector. We beckon to every Nigerian who is 18 years and above and has got their Permanent Voter Card (PVC) to brandish it in the face of those who come seeking votes and ask the politicians for their commitment to genuine housing development.
“As they come asking for votes, ask them what they have for the mass of the poorly housed or homeless Nigerians. Nigeria needs N49 trillion to tackle the 14 million housing deficit. It is only a sincere and committed government that can surmount this.”
Adebayo called on government to ease the process of land acquisition because the difficult land acquisition process is the major hindrance to home ownership in the country stressing that many Nigerians would have built their own houses if land acquisition process were not complex.
“Because of the gap in the housing need, scammers have taken advantage of this, they pose as developers whereas their motive is always to exploit the people. We are creating awareness on the need to revolutionise the housing sector and we want professionals in the built environment and people of goodwill to join us in this mission to make our society a better place for all, not a better place for few,” he maintained.
He said an enduring housing development programme will not only afford Nigerians opportunity to acquire decent homes, it is a veritable tool for economic transformation.
Adebayo who observed that 85 percent of Nigerians is living in rented apartment and quite often in poorly constructed houses took a swipe at the National Assembly for not reviewing the Land Use Act passed 36 years ago.
He observed that the Federal Mortgage Bank of Nigeria (FMBN) Act which has not really helped Nigerians over the decades has not caught the attention of the legislators even as the Social Housing Bill has not got more than Second Reading.
“This is time for Nigerians to rise up and take definite position on the housing question.
“Any candidate who has no clear and workable programme for housing development should be rejected forthright,” the CEO maintained.