By Angela Atabo
Association of Housing Corporations of Nigeria (AHCN) has revealed that Lagos, Enugu, Kano, Niger and Borno States have delivered the highest housing units under the State Housing Corporation in the last one year.
Eno Obongha, President and Chairman of Council, AHCN, said this at the State of the Nation’s Housing Address to mark the 2025 World Habitat Day themed “Urban Crisis Response” in Abuja.
Obongha said the World Habitat Day was set aside by the United Nations to reflect on the state of towns and cities and the basic right of all to adequate shelter.
He added that the day further intended to remind the world that everyone has the power and responsibility to shape the future of towns and cities and AHCN took it upon itself to give a state of the nation address on the housing situation in Nigeria.
He said that an analysis of the activities of State Housing Corporations revealed that 17 states have ongoing or completed projects in the last one year.
“Lagos State has the highest construction of housing units ongoing with 5,360 units, Enugu 3,050 units, Kano 1,500 and Niger has 614 units.
“Others include: Borno 600 units, Sokoto 500, Katsina 500, Oyo 487, Cross River 482, Akwa Ibom 200, Edo 95, Benue 90, Kaduna 81, Kebbi 50, Kwara 26 and Yobe 50 units.”
“18 states: Abia, Adamawa, Anambra, Bauchi, Bayelsa, Delta, Ebonyi, Ekiti, Gombe, Imo, Jigawa, Kogi,
Obongha emphasised the need for states to key into the housing corporations in order to meet the mandate of delivering houses to residents, to address the housing deficit.
“The chief driver of the housing subsector in Nigeria is the Minister for Housing and Urban Development, Ahmed Dangiwa, who is working under the Renewed Hope agenda to revolutionalise housing and reduce the supposed housing deficits.
Obongha said the association was elated with the policy directions, creative solutions and reforms that the Federal Government had embarked upon.
According to him, this has laid a solid foundation for sustainable housing sector.
He added it would touch on all critical value points and problem areas in Nigeria’s housing eco-system.
He, however, lamented that at the State Government level, not much has been recorded in the provision of affordable housing in virtually all the states within the last one year.
He said that most of the State Housing Corporations have not executed any tangible housing projects this year as many of them are still very dormant without definite direction on housing provision.
“Under the Institutional Framework of the 2012 National Housing Policy, the document specifically recognises State Housing Corporations as the Primary government agencies responsible for housing delivery at the State level and Federal Housing Authority at the Federal level.
“It mandates them to initiate, develop, and manage housing projects for various income groups, particularly low and middle income earners.”
Obongha explained that the State Housing Corporations were created by law to drive mass housing delivery in each state, but many are struggling to fulfil the mandate.
He added that their failure was largely due to structural, financial, and policy-related issues.
He said that there was need for state lawmakers to amend the Housing Corporations Laws in their states as the laws were obsolete, suggesting that they should incorporate them into limited liability companies to cope with modern trends.
According to him, a number of housing corporations are still operating with the Model Edict promulgated by the Yakubu Gowon led Supreme Military Council and sent to the Military Governors in 1969.
He added that in some states, civil servants were posted to Housing Corporations on punishment grounds, a narrative, he said needed to change.
“If we must respond to urban crises which is the theme of 2025 World Habitat Day, we must convert our ever rising housing demand to gain with innovative ideas and reforms that will transform the housing sector and increase accessibility to decent, quality and affordable housing for all Nigerians.
“We must wake up from our slumber and empower State Housing Corporations and the Federal Housing Authority to fully engage in their statutory responsibilities of building mass housing for the people.
“Until deliberate attempt is made to address housing challenges of low and medium income groups through mass housing, housing deficit will continue to widen.
“Collaboration by all housing stakeholders is inevitable, if we must make progress and it starts with all of us in the housing sector.
“Let us, therefore, join hands together to confront the myriads of problems confronting the housing sector.” (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)
Edited by Deji Abdulwahab
