Reps ask FG to provide reliable data on housing deficit

The House of Representatives has urged the Federal Government to provide scientific, verifiable data on the housing deficit and improve access to affordable housing in the country.

This decision was taken on Tuesday’s plenary after adopting a motion on “Provision of affordable housing in Nigeria,” sponsored by the member representing Ikono/Ini Federal Constituency of Akwa Ibom State, Emmanuel Ukpong-Udo.

Drumming support for the motion, the lawmaker noted that data is considered an important factor in the planning and execution of projects across all tiers of government.

He stated, “The housing sector in Nigeria, with a huge deficit, lacks veritable data for planning and execution of housing policies and strategies.

“The house is aware that according to the world population review, over 24 million people in Nigeria are homeless, with no appropriate access to proper dwelling with some basic social amenities.

“The house is worried that Nigeria is among the top 10 countries with homeless populations, leading with 24 million, followed by Pakistan, Egypt, Syria, and Congo.”

The house also expressed displeasure that the country relies on the World Bank report for housing data, adding that for a nation to grow and enjoy stability, “there is a need to have its housing data as well as a market that works efficiently and provides decent shelter for its citizens.”

Following the motion’s adoption, the House presided over by Speaker Tajudeen Abbas, mandated its Committee on Housing and Habitat to liaise with the Federal Ministry of Housing and Urban Development to address the lack of credible, scientific, and verifiable data on the state of housing in the country and ensure access to decent and affordable housing.