The Senate President of Nigeria, Senator Ahmed Lawan has reiterated the commitment of the Senate and the National Assembly to amend housing related laws that will advance the development of the sector.
This was made known on Thursday by the Vice Chairman of Senate Committee on Housing and Urban Development Senator Ashiru Oyinlola while speaking on behalf of the Senate President at the Urban October and World Cities Day celebration organised by the Ministry of Works and Housing in Abuja.
Senator Oyinlola said that in consultation with housing stakeholders, the Senate Committee on Housing is preparing a long list of amendments that will fast track the development of Nigeria housing sector.
‘’We are very committed to amending those laws because they are very necessary for our people to be housed. We are up to the task and all the obstacles will be removed,’’ he said.
To enable a housing sector that will provide housing, jobs and contribute to the country’s GDP, laws and policies surrounding mortgage, foreclosure, mass housing, land use act, infrastructure, funding etc. have been suggested for amendment by stakeholders while benchmarking them with best practices and progressive developments.
Also speaking on the purpose of the event which centres on urbanisation, Senator Oyinlola said that Nigeria’s rapid population and urban growths are more of opportunities for further development.
‘’Yes, we are expecting population increase in Nigeria and also that urban population will triple. It is an advantage as long as we recognise that cities are great machines of social and economic development. As long as we are prepared to plan with this great population I am sure it will turn into great things. I am optimistic about the fact that the Federal Ministry of Works and Housing, ministry of Environment and all other relevant ministries will take up the challenge to plan very well for Nigeria’s urban growth,’’ he said.
He said that the Senate and the entire Legislative arm of government are prepared to give legislative backing to the initiatives from all related stakeholders in ensuring sanity and development of urban areas.
Urbanization provides the potential for new forms of social inclusion, including greater equality, access to services and new opportunities, and engagement and mobilization that reflects the diversity of cities, countries and the globe. Yet too often this is not the shape of urban development. Inequality and exclusion abound, often at rates greater than the national average, at the expense of sustainable development that delivers for all.
Urban October was launched by UN-Habitat in 201h4 to emphasize the world’s urban challenges and engage the international community towards the New Urban Agenda.
