Fawaz Adebisi
The Moshood Abiola Polytechnic, Abeokuta Ogun State has held an international press conference which aimed at tackling housing deficit amidst poor funding in the country.
The conference, which is it’s third, held at the institution’s School of Environmental Studies as it had in attendance journalists in the state, to cover.
Speaking at the conference, Dr. Samson Agbato, an environmental expert and the Director of the School of Environmental Studies at MAPOLY, emphasized the urgent need for the government to address the housing crisis in the country.
Dr. Agbato stressed that the current housing deficit stands at a staggering 28 million units, underscoring the magnitude of the problem, as he called on the federal government to review the Land Use Act of 1978.
In his words, the issue of the financing has been a critical problem, urging the government to revitalize both educational and mortgage institutions to better serve the needs of Nigerians, especially those with low or no income.
Although, Dr. Agbato noted that the Federal Mortgage Bank has already increased its available funds from N15 million to N45 million.
However, he stressed the necessity for more substantial and accessible funding mechanisms within the housing sector.
“The issue of financing has been a critical problem. We have been informed that the Federal Mortgage Bank has increased the available fund, but more needs to be done to ensure that mortgage institutions are effectively functioning. Many people have contributed to the National Housing Fund, yet they don’t have access to the funds.
“The government needs to establish a framework that reflects the reality that, as participants in that field, they should have access to the fund. Furthermore, increasing the fund to N60 million would provide greater comfort,” he said.
Continuing his plea, he stressed the importance of long-term loans for long-term housing projects, emphasizing the need for a vibrant mortgage industry.
Dr. Agbato therefore on the government to breathe new life into educational and mortgage institutions to address the housing crisis effectively.
Speaking also, the Chairman of the Conference Planning Committee, Akinkunmi Baiyewu, highlighted the importance of professional approval and building control in preventing building collapses.
He announced that the conference, themed “Sustainable Built Environment and Innovative Development in the 21st Century,” is scheduled for September 28th and 29th.
According to him, the conference aims to generate solutions for building a sustainable environment in alignment with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
Baiyewu emphasized, “This event aims to gather experts, scholars, and stakeholders to generate solutions for building a sustainable environment in alignment with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
“Seven tracks have been established to cover a wide range of topics related to sustainable development, including innovative planning, administration, and factors influencing sustainable development.”
He therefore revealed that that Prof. Kola Akinsanmi of the School of Construction and Management at the University of Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa, will deliver the keynote address, and the lead speaker will be Prof. B.T. Aluko of the Department of Estate Management at the Faculty of Environmental Science, Obafemi Awolowo University in Ile-Ife, Osun State.
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