Nigeria’s massive housing deficit will not be adequately addressed until governments and real estate private developers turn their focus to mass housing as a sector priority rather than the present proliferation of luxury estates that are beyond the reach of average Nigerians.
This is one of the key resolutions by the The Companion, a group of Muslim businessmen and other professionals at their 2014 national conference held at the Lafia Hotel in Ibadan over the weekend.
Under the theme, “Beyond Bricks and Mortar: An Appraisal of Nigeria’s Housing Policy,” various speakers at the conference observed that the country’s housing policy does not cater for millions of Nigerians who actually need basic shelter.
In his opening remarks, chairman of the occasion, Alhaji Yunus Akintunde observed that a good housing policy must ensure that houses truly meant for the people are available, accessible, affordable and sustainable. Where any of these variables is lacking, the policy is deficient, Akintunde, an Executive Assistant to Oyo State Governor Abiola Ajimobi, said.
Speaking in the same vein, Oyo State Commissioner for Lands and Housing who was represented by the permanent secretary of the ministry, Alhaji Oladipo Taofik noted that social housing should be the focus of governments at all levels.
“Governments should facilitate speedy titling and documentation of lands, public-private partnerships in housing delivery and mortgage financing,” he said.
“But most importantly, these policies should be deliberately designed to deliver houses to those who really need them to live in, rather than speculators and profiteers.”
Delivering a paper on “Ethical Living: The new era of living,” Mr Abdul-Malik Abdul-Aziz, an Abuja-based architect, presented graphic pictures of how a purpose-built Muslim residence should look in terms of functionality, facilities and aesthetics. “A Muslim home must put into consideration the direction of the Kaabah (in Mecca) where the Muslims face when saying their daily prayers,” he noted.
Finally, Alhaji Nojeem Jimoh, a former UK-based housing expert shared his personal experiences on how the British government is creatively using housing to solve other social problems like prostitution, drug abuse and “rough-sleeping” under a scheme known as Supported Housing, Supporting People. “The British government has rehabilitated and converted a lot of street people and rough sleepers into hard-working tax-payers under the scheme by supporting them to live normal lives using housing as a tool,” Jimoh narrated.
The national Amir (President) of The Companion, Alhaji Musbau Oyefeso while delivering his welcome address at the conference lamented the unavailability of adequate Islamic finance options for Muslims to explore. He advised Muslim organizations to join hands in tackling their peculiar challenges and assisting their members to secure affordable shelters. “As Muslims, we are commanded by Allah to be our brother’s keeper,” he admonished.
Meanwhile, The Companion has also condemned some recent political developments in the country, specifically the crises at the National Assembly and the Ekiti State House of Assembly. “Our politicians and law enforcement agencies should stop their acts of lawlessness and allow the rule of law to prevail so that we may have a peaceful general election next year,” the group concluded.
