Ogun partners Lafarge on advanced construction technology

Recognizing the rising housing deficit in Nigeria, coupled with serious overstretching impacts on inadequate available housing facilities, the Ogun state government has moved to partner Lafarge Africa Plc, a member of LafargeHolcim’s on advanced construction technology needed to spring up development in housing sector of the nation’s economy, particularly Ogun state.

The huge housing gap and challenges inherent in the Nigeria’s housing sector, according to official declaration, has prompted government on the possibility of partnership with relevant firms in building materials and construction industry, including Lafarge Africa with a view to developing joint frameworks on the provision of solid and affordable housing for people.

Speaking on a topic,” Housing Deficit in Developing Economies: Challenges, Prospects” as part of lectures to mark 2015 Press Week of Ogun State Correspondents’ Chapel of Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Babajide Odusolu, managing director, Ogun State Property and Investment Corporation (OPIC) disclosed that efforts were at final stage to partner Lafarge Africa on housing development.

He said that it was a fact that Nigeria needs 17 million housing units annually to bridge gap in housing industry, but Nigerians were not doing enough as regards vocational skills acquisition, required in the course of building and construction of housing facilities in the country, adding that Nigeria’s housing industry relies so much on the skills and expertise acquired from the neighboring countries.

He also added that despite the efforts of federal and some state governments in bridging the housing deficit across the country, most states were still unable to provide 1,000 housing units annually, in addition to dearth of skillful artisans and tile workers obtainable within Nigeria, explaining that OPIC had made frantic efforts to provide 1,000 units of housing annually for people’s acquisition.

Odusolu said that the government, having observed rising demands for housing facilities in the state and country, designed a comprehensive blueprint on housing development through the Ministry of Housing, Ogun State Property and Investment Corporation (OPIC) and Ogun State Housing Corporation (OGSHC) and in partnership with building and construction firms.

While disclosing that Governor Ibikunle Amosun-led administration in Ogun state has set the ball rolling by building and delivering 1,500 housing facilities in the last two years as part of effort to ensure improved access to homes ownership and property market, he added that discounted land titles and certificate of occupancy were also provided under Homeowners Charter Scheme.

 

RAZAQ AYINLA