By Oluwaseun Sonde
Delegates at the ongoing National Council on Lands, Housing and Urban Development holding in Sokoto have been charged to come up with resolutions that would transform the housing sector and the entire built industry.
The charge was given by the Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Works and Housing, Barshir Nura Alkali, FCA, FCTI in his remarks during the meeting of the body of Permanent Secretaries at the Council.
This was contained in statement released by the Works and Housing Ministry Director, Press and Public Relations, Blessing Lere-Adams on Wednesday in Abuja.
Alkali explained that key resolutions from stakeholders in the industry would facilitate the efforts of government in addressing the numerous challenges in the sector as well as lifting people out of poverty through job creation in the industry.
Stressing on the Theme of the 11th Council meeting titled 'Housing Our People, By All of Government and All Our People," he noted that the task of providing decent and affordable houses for Nigerians must be the collective responsibility of all tiers of governments.
"We have roles to play as key actors in decision making processes on housing matters and we must ensure that our people are not denied such access to decent and affordable housing," He said.
Accordingly, he also said that with the commissioning and handing over of housing units constructed under the Phase I of the National Housing Programme, (NHP), under the Administration of President Muhammadu Buhari has been able to reduce the housing deficit to its barest minimum.
He said "I want to say at this juncture that Federal Ministry of Works and Housing has been fully committed to the implementation of the National Housing Programme (NHP) in line with the Present Administration of President Muhammadu Buhari "
The Permanent Secretary expressed delight that the NHP has come to fruition with the commissioning and handing over of several completed housing projects in states across the six geo-political zones of the federation, noting that it has assisted in reducing housing deficit in the country.
Responding to the request made by the Sokoto State Government for the Federal Ministry of Works and Housing to assist in disposing its 500 housing units located along Salanke Area in the State, through the Rent-To -Own Scheme of the Federal Mortgage Bank, Alkali informed them that the Minister of Works and Housing, Babatunde Fashola, has directed the bank to liaise with the relevant ministry on the matter.
Earlier in his remark,the Permanent Secretary, Sokoto State Ministry of Lands, Housing, Survey and Urban Planning, Engr. Ahmed Moyi Tambuwal, represented by the Director-General, Sokoto Geographical Information System Agency ( SGISA), Aminu Magaji, the body of the Permanent Secretaries to see their status as an opportunity to play their roles by charting impactful course that could address housing issues in Nigeria.
He said, "Your presence today as Permanent Secretaries, has therefore provided you a unique opportunity to play your roles in official and personal capacities to make contribution to addressing housing issues in the country".
He reminded them of the importance of the outcome of their deliberations, noting that it would form the basis of all final decisions that would be taken at the completion of the council.
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