Minority Whip House of Representatives, Gideon Luka has promised to formulate implementable laws to address housing deficit in the country.
Luka, who spoke in Abuja at the Archibuild 2019 Exposition with theme: “Driving Nigerian Architecture through Technology’’, said the House would also ensure that the Nigerian Institute of Architects (NIA) was supported and protected.
Luka advised the gathering to work together to address the challenges of building in the country.
“The challenges of building are enormous but there is a lot we can do in order to remain focused in addressing housing deficit in the country. All the professionals must work together to address the challenges of building for the country to achieve its vision,’’ he said.
The Managing Director, Federal Mortgage Bank of Nigeria (FMBN), Mr Ahmed Dangiwa, said the anniversary was a milestone not only to the institute but also to the entire housing and real estate sector in Nigeria.
Dangiwa said the archibult had made lots of impacts on government policies on the building and construction sector.
He said the exposition should be sustained to engage the government at all levels, policymakers, professionals and sector players on ideas for the advancement of Nigeria’s built environment and the entire economy.
According to him, addressing the nation’s housing deficit must go hand-in-hand with the promotion of the use of local building materials and technology.
He said this would not only drive down house prices but make the country “self-dependent and master of her fate”.
Dangiwa said the building collapse was a key issue that needed urgent attention because of the frequency and failures across the country.
“We must begin to confront these challenges frontally and generate implementable ideas to resolve them. NIA has a key role to play here. Aside the huge housing deficit and lack of adequate finance, professionalism in the sector is also continuously under threat.
“The association must continue to engage the government and policymakers for the enthronement of essential regulations to guide all facets of the country’s operations in the sector and eliminate quackery,’’ he said.
