Nigeria partners Iran to provide affordable housing

The Minister of Industry, Mines and Trade of the Islamic Republic of Iran, Mr Muhammed Reza stated this during a courtesy visit to the Minister of Lands, Housing and Urban Development, Mrs Akon Eyakenyi in Abuja. Mr Reza said Iran is seeking avenues to boost relations with Africa and has planned to do this by reaching […]

The Minister of Industry, Mines and Trade of the Islamic Republic of Iran, Mr Muhammed Reza stated this during a courtesy visit to the Minister of Lands, Housing and Urban Development, Mrs Akon Eyakenyi in Abuja.
 Mr Reza said Iran is seeking avenues to boost relations with Africa and has planned to do this by reaching out to the continent’s largest nation, Nigeria.
 In her response, the minister called on the Iranian government to share its expertise in new technologies that will reduce the cost of construction and assist in providing affordable houses for Nigerians.
 She said with the 17 million housing deficit in the country, it is not possible for government alone to help, saying government might look outside to draw partners to intervene in this sector.
“We’re willing to accept partnership; we have our own measured approach. We have the land, we provide land; we also ensure that a conducive environment is given and we ensure that there will be the off takers, people to pick up the housing units when completed, while our developers, the partners will provide the funding.  
“We must be sure that if the land is made available it won’t take too long for the developer to raise the funds and then come in for the development to take place,” said Eyakenyi.
She told the visiting Iranian delegation to concentrate on housing targeted at the low income and the medium income earners.
 “So whatever way that your country wants to come in, the major thing to look into is the affordability.
“That’s the cost of delivery. Again, that will relate to the technology to be used. It is important that the technology to be applied will bring down the cost at the end to be able to tackle the affordability aspect of the buildings.
“I want to encourage the government of Iran and the companies that came with you, to feel free to interact with our team to find the way forward so that at the end, we’ll have a fruitful outcome for the partnership,”  said the minister.