60% of humans to live in cities in 2030- Shelter Afrique Nigeria must respond to the growing urban population and increased need for accommodation in her major cities to avoid high rate of homelessness and urban slums. Th is was contained in the address delivered by Shelter Afrique’s Managing Director, Mr James Mugerwa, at the 35th Annual General Meeting and International Symposium of Shelter Afrique held in Abuja. Th e managing director, who quoted the UN-Habitat estimates, noted of that half of humanity, a total of 3.5 billion already live in cities adding that by 2030 more than 60 percent of humans will live in urban cities. “In about 13 years from now almost 60 per cent of the world’s population will live in urban areas and 95 per cent of urban expansion in the next decades will take place in developing world, most of it right here in Africa,” he said urging the federal government to take serious note because Nigeria’s urban population is growing by the day.
According to him, Africa would require an additional 532 million units across the continent by 2030, stressing that the UN Habitat estimates 828 million people live in slums today and the number keeps rising. “Th e challenge now is, and indeed has always been, how to create decent, aff ordable housing for all while also battling with unprecedented urbanisation rates.” Mugerwa observed that in 2015 they fi nanced an estimated 1773 houses by new approvals, and also created 1164 mortgages from new approvals and lines of credit. He applauded the development stressing that should the trend be sustained over the new strategy cycle, Shelter Afrique will produce at least 10683 houses and 6984 mortgages. He revealed that from 2005- 2010, Shelter Afrique fi nanced and commissioned projects worth over $50M dollars in Nigeria. “I am happy to announce the recent signing of a $9.1m dollars facility to Afro Asia Shelters International for 300 units and related infrastructure in Jibi, Niger State. We view this as a hallmark project, precisely because the end product will be delivered to members of the Trade Union Congress.”
