As part of proactive efforts towards ensuring the planning and building of liveable settlements and affordable housing in Nigeria, the Nigerian institute of Town Planners (NITP) has embarked on a courtesy call to the Regional office of Shelter Afrique in Abuja.
The courtesy call was made by a delegation of some NITP executives led by the National President of the Institute, TPL Lekwa Ezutah, who stated that the importance of the visit cannot be overstated, as it is an avenue for partnership, collaboration and a means of consolidating the productive relationship between the two organizations.
“We are here on a courtesy call to the regional representative of Shelter Afrique, to explore areas we could collaborate in ensuring that we provide liveable settlements, including the providing affordable housing for our people. Shelter Afrique on one side, deals with the issue of finance, while on the other side we deal with the issue of ensuring that our settlements are orderly, functional and developed. So there is a need for synergy between us” he said.
Ezutah commended Shelter Afrique for their sustained efforts towards addressing housing deficit in the country by providing affordable and liveable houses to Nigerians, calling for the involvement of NITP in planning and standardizing housing projects and settlements managed and built by Shelter Afrique in Nigeria.
He said, “There are areas we have agreed and we intend to explore those areas further. We have to partner with them (Shelter Afrique) to ensure that the estates which they fund meet the standards of the city. For instance, if you want to develop an Estate in a particular city, what are the building standards, planning standards in particular, will that Estate meet these standards? More importantly, will the estates serve their purpose? It is the Town planner who determines the location of activities and structures within a city. That is why there is the need for us to collaborate.”
Responding to the call the Regional Representative of Shelter Afrique, Mrs Elizabeth Ogonegbu, appreciated NITP for the timely visit, adding that with concerted efforts from the two sides, a lot of progress would be made in areas of affordable housing, tackling housing deficit and urban development which would be instrumental to economic growth and advancement in the country.
According to her, “The Nigerian institute of town planners are key stakeholders in the Nigerian housing sector, so it is good that we meet and talk about and how we can partner together for the good of the country, ensure that we build good homes at appropriate locations and reduce the housing deficit in Nigeria”
She further stated that Shelter Afrique would work in line with NITP regulations and actively involve the institute in matters relating to planning and appropriate locations of all projects undertaken by Shelter Afrique, while also reiterating commitment towards partnering with various built industry stakeholders and professionals in making affordable and liveable housing a reality in the country.
