The Nigerian Institution of Estate Surveyors and Valuers has corroborated the assertion of the Minister of Works and Housing, Mr Babatunde Fashola, that Nigeria does not have a 17 million housing deficit.
The President, NIESV, Emmanuel Wike, said the body was in full agreement with the minister’s statement during a courtesy visit to the minister on Thursday, according to a statement by the Ministry of Works and Housing.
Wike was quoted as saying, “We are in total agreement with you on the unreliability of the 17 million housing deficit being brandished in Nigeria for lacking scientific proof.
“We are using this opportunity to reaffirm the importance of data bank and our commitment to the provision of a property data bank for all state capitals and major cities in Nigeria.”
In his remarks, Fashola said, ‘There is more demand in housing due to people that move from rural areas to urban centres to squat in the city, and when demand exceeds supply, there will be scarcity. The solution lie in having accurate data of empty houses in the cities.”
The minister urged the institute to come up with accurate data on the housing issue, adding that such data would help towards solving the housing problem.
While commenting on the Land Use Act, the minister said, “The law is not the problem; it is not enough to say repeal the law.
