Housing and the Environment

The problem of housing Nigerians especially in urban areas has remained intractable since the days of the good old day of the Third Development Plan (1995) when it was thought that 202,000 housing units would deal with the problem. But every attempt so far made has failed often before it started. At the moment the estimate is that we need about 100,000 new housing units every year costing about N 1 million each which makes a total of N100 billion. It is safe to say that this bill cannot be met at public expense. But the 1991 National Housing Policy which set out to create a massive revolving loan fund financed by mortgages is still in force. What is lacking is the political and bureaucratic will to enforce the law. Similarly with regard to the environment the laws to end pollution and protect the water supply, the atmosphere and the surroundings are in the books. What is lacking is public compliance. On these matters, the All Progressives Grand Alliance believes that with the right programmes of public enlightenment and democratic dialogue with the people, a great deal can be achieved.

The programmes of the All Progressives Grand Alliance will be as follows;

i. APGA will simplify the processes for the acquisition of land for building purposes by a massive use of the estate system.

ii. APGA will promote research for new building technologies to reduce costs.

iii. APGA will support the two tier system of fund mobilization in which the Federal Mortgage Bank is an apex institution working with private savings and loans institutions.

iv. At the same time. APGA will encourage private building societies and private savings and loans funds to be created in local government areas and states for savings mobilization.

v. APGA will use federal mortgage insurance organizations for re-financing mortgages.

vi. Re-discounting facilities for mortgages will be established to enable insurance companies and banks participate in mortgages thereby raising the enormous loan fund that is needed for housing.

vii. APGA will encourage employers, local government councils and private entrepreneurs, using the low interest housing fund to create low cost estates for sale to the public No estates will be put on the market until they have paved roads, light, water and drainage, and are environment - friendly.

viii. APGA will ensure that public conveniences are created in strategic places and that members of the public are not forced to indecency and the discharge o[refuse ever where in the streets.

ix. APGA will establish agencies for the monitoring of environmental protection, public sanitation and the restoration of tidyness and order in all public places.