The Nigeria Institute of Architects (NIA), has raised the alarm on the rise of slum houses in the country.

This was as the institute noted increasing housing supply deficit in the country, especially in the urban areas.

The institute predicted that if nothing was done to address the situation, many cities will turn to slums by 2050.

Former head, Department of Architecture, University of Nigeria, Nzukka (UNN) Professor Ibem Eziyi, stated this in Abakaliki, Ebonyi state capital at a symposium organised by the Ebonyi state chapter of the institute.

The theme of the symposium was ” bridging the housing deficit: collaborative strategies for sustainable low-cost housing delivery in Nigeria.”

Eziyi further stated that in most cities in Nigeria, people living in slums, substandard housing environment that is not worth living which he said was  affecting their health, well-being and productivity.

“Nigeria is a fast urbanising country and it is one of the leading urbanizing country in sub-saharan Africa and is estimated that by 2050, Nigeria’s population will be more than 400million which is just about the 3rd in the whole world just behind India and we have been having huge housing supply deficit especially in the urban areas.

“This is why many Nigerians, the low income earners are struggling to ensure that they have adequate accommodation and because of that, we have been having a lot of slums developing in all our urban areas.

“If you look around, in most cities in Nigeria, you will find slums, people living in substandard housing environment that is not even worth living in and you will see that these conditions are actually affecting their health, their well-being and productivity which is why we are in dire need of solutions that will help these categories of citizens to have access to adequate housing,” he stated.