By YABAGI MOHAMMED
A leading advocacy body called Housing Development Advocacy Network (HDAN) has set an agenda for the newly appointed Managing Director of Family Homes Funds Ltd, Mr. Abdul Muktar.
In a statement made available to newsmen in Abuja on Tuesday, the Executive Director of HDAN, Festus Adebayo made a rallying call for industry support for the new Managing Director, while charging him to sustain the achievements of the affordable housing institution and to uphold its mandate to Nigerians.
According to Adebayo, one of the ways of achieving this is by using housing to drive jobs. He revealed that this will be a sustainable way of reducing youth unemployment and insecurity.
The housing network emphasized the need for strong partnerships, especially with credible private developers with remarkable records of performance in delivering affordable homes for Nigerians.
HDAN further charged the Managing Director of FHFL to look beyond partnership with state governments, and consider other relevant development partners whose visions align with that of FHFL.
The body also called on the MD to champion a strong policy framework that will ultimately guarantee the provision of affordable housing for Nigerians on low income.
“There should be significant difference between the home pricing of Family Homes Funds and that of private developers, whose sole aim is to make profit. We want the democratization of home ownership for everyone in Nigeria. In that way, Family Homes Funds would have made a significant difference.”
In managing the increase in the price of building materials, HDAN called on the new MD to seek innovative ways of engaging directly with manufacturers for subsidized bulk purchases of building materials, especially cement.
“It would not be easy to build affordable housing with the current price of building materials, so there is also the need to engage with research institutes, professional bodies, and civil societies on alternative and sustainable building material options.
“Through this, Family Homes Funds can begin to deliver hundred percent made in Nigeria houses that will kickstart an enviable legacy,” read the statement.
