The Minister of Power, Works and Housing, Babatunde Fashola (SAN), said the Federal Government was ready to collaborate with the private sector in housing and urban development to provide affordable houses.
Fashola made the pledge in a statement signed by Mrs Eno Olotu, Assistant Director, Information (Housing), of the ministry in Abuja on Thursday.
The minister, who spoke at the second Abuja Housing and Investment Expo, said that the collaboration would create enabling environment for citizens to purchase affordable houses of their choices based on their income.
He said that it was part of efforts of the present administration to provide affordable housing to teeming Nigerian population.
Fashola said the ministry would always welcome and continue to encourage new concept of decent and affordable mass housing for the people in line with the National Housing Policy.
He commended the Abuja Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ACCI) and Shelter Aid Limited, organisers of the event for their consistency and commitment in ensuring investment in provision of affordable housing.
The statement also quoted the Chairman, Senate Committee on Federal Capital Territory, Sen. Dino Melaye as saying that corruption was a major factor that hindered development and growth in the housing sector.
Melaye urged stakeholders to have a change of heart and put the interest of the people first.
He said that the committee was already working on ‘Rent Edit’ in Abuja that would protect tenants and landlords and help checkmate incessant increase of rents in Abuja and the country at large.
Melaye, however, promised that the committee would ensure that the rent edit would be passed into law before the end of the eightth senate.
The theme of this year’s event is `Housing and Investment for Economic Recovery’. (NAN)