NAN-H-29
Housing
By Uche Bibilari
Abuja, Jan. 22, 2017 (NAN) Mr Festus Adebayo, Chief Executive Officer and Coordinator, Abuja Housing Show, says the 11th edition of the show would offer institutional reforms for a sustainable housing development.
Adebayo made the assertion in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja on Sunday.
NAN reports that the show slated for July 17 to 19, being an annual event, is the biggest home construction expo in West Africa.
Its theme is: “Solving Nigeria’s Housing Challenge Through Innovative Finance and Infrastructure Solution.’’
Adebayo urged the Federal Government to come up come up with a policy statement that could help the nation to move forward in the area of housing development.
“There is need for total institutional reforms to bring about a sustainable housing development.
“This will be made possible as the show will bring together people from the National Assembly and those in charge of power in all the states of the federation.
“As you know, powers are in the hands of the state government as far as the issue of housing is concern, especially in the areas of access to land and building approval,’’ Adebayo said.
He said that the programme was being organised with the support of all professional bodies in the housing sector, adding that it was not a programme of only the architects, builders or quantity surveyors.
Adebayo said that the programme enjoys the support, involvement and the participation of all the stakeholders in the building sector.
He said that a lot had been achieved through the show such as the need for review of the Land Use Act.
“Last year, we brought in the president of the senate and said that they have already started working on the Land Use Act.
“Abuja Housing Show has brought in the change, and we are on top of the change to ensure that the Land Use Act is reviewed.
“Abuja Housing Show has been promoting and championing the course for the use of local content and standard building materials which some organisations, and estate developers have keyed into.
“It has become a good avenue for people to exchange ideals; it has become a platform for people to interact and get updated on the latest trend in the housing industry,” Adebayo said.
He said that the show has also created a platform for some state governments to gain new ideals for developing affordable housing.
Adebayo said that about 20 countries would feature at the housing show like Ireland, Netherland, South Korea, Turkey, South Africa, USA, UK, Italy, Kenyan, Ghana, among others.
He said that the 2017 show was being supported by the Federal Ministry of Housing, Federal Mortgage Bank of Nigeria (FMBN), Real Estate Developers Association of Nigeria (REDAN), Nigeria Institute of Builders and UN Habitat. (NAN)
UU/ESAN/GOK
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Edited by Abiodun Esan/Olagoke Olatoye