Experts, stakeholders gather in Gombe to Tackle affordable housing, building collapse crisis
Experts and stakeholders in Nigeria’s housing sector have gathered in Gombe for the 13th National Council on Lands, Housing and Urban Development meeting, where affordable housing and the rise in building collapses are key topics for discussion.
Organised by the Federal Ministry of Housing and Urban Development, The Informant247 gathered that the council meeting will run until Friday, 15 November 2024, under the theme “Housing the Future: Affordable Housing for Economic Growth, Climate Resilience, and Urban Development.”
The event brings together state commissioners, directors in the built environment, surveyors-general, CEOs of housing corporations, and regulatory bodies from across Nigeria.
The focus is on identifying solutions to challenges in the housing sector, encouraging investment, and promoting best practices.
In his keynote address, Gombe’s Commissioner for Works, Housing and Transportation, Engr. Usman Maijama’a Kallamu, emphasised the importance of affordable housing as a driver of economic growth and sustainable urban development.
“Our collective goal is to provide every individual with access to safe, decent, and affordable housing,” he said.
Permanent Secretary of Gombe’s Ministry of Works, Housing and Transportation, Danladi Adamu, encouraged delegates to establish mechanisms to boost domestic investment in housing and address the frequent building collapses in Nigeria.
Mohammed Bala Saulawa, Director of Planning, Research, and Statistics at the Federal Ministry, explained that the council meeting includes technical sessions, a gathering of permanent secretaries, and a ministerial session chaired by the Honourable Minister of Housing and Urban Development.
Saulawa stressed the need for professionalism, noting that the technical sessions are expected to deliver actionable solutions to enhance housing affordability, address market demand and supply, and reduce building collapses.
He emphasised the human toll of building collapses, which not only destroy property but also result in loss of life.
Saulawa said the council would establish policies to curb this crisis, and mentioned the recent inauguration of a building collapse tribunal by Minister Ahmed Musa Dangiwa to enforce building standards and hold violators accountable.
The council meeting offers a valuable platform for professionals to share expertise on issues such as housing finance, building safety, and fair land compensation.
