The Federal Housing Authority (FHA) in Nigeria has revealed plans to partner with Turkish companies to boost housing construction in Nigeria.
FHA Managing Director, Professor Mohammed Al-Amin announced during his visit to the Turkish Embassy in Abuja.
Recently, Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan paid a courtesy visit to Nigeria President Muhammadu Buhari regarding the housing issue in the country. The housing featured prominently in the discussion between the two presidents particularly on the areas of possible economic cooperation between the two nations.
Nigeria has estimated 17 million housing deficit. However, the federal government has proposed to construct one million housing units yearly as a way of responding to the housing shortage in the country.
Additionally, the federal government in collaboration with the state governments will construct 250, 000 housing units each while 500,000 housing units will be constructed by the domestic and foreign investors.
To show its commitment and concern to the country’s housing shortage, the federal government has allocated a total amount of US$221.6m in its budget. The funds have been directed social housing units in the country.Between1973 and 2006, the Federal Housing Authority (FHA) had only constructed 30,000 housing units nationwide.
The appropriate Turkish building companies to partner with the authority are expected to contribute to the mass production of building materials,housing construction, technical expertise and financing contribution.
One of the major housing policy initiatives on Affordable Housing was initiated in 1979 by Shehu Shagari Administration. Unfortunately the policy was unable to meet the nation’s housing needs due to the unsustainable tenet that houses will be provided by government. Yet again, the implementation of the 2002 housing policy reforms has been a promising beginning, but a lot is yet to be done.
Housing situation in Nigeria is far from being satisfactory as housing provision in the country is grossly inadequate. The housing problem is described to have its root in the trend in urbanization and population growth in the country.
