FG To Build New Layouts Across Nigeria

The Minsiter of Lands, Housing and Urban Development, Nduese Essien, has said that the Federal Government will provide new layouts in cities across the country, as a measure to reducing urban congestion.

Worried by the rate of degeneration of Nigerian cities to slums, the minister explained that arrangements had been made to carry out the policy and that the Federal Government was aware of congestion in the cities of this country, and pointed out that the only solution to the problem will be to build and develop more layouts where people would live, instead of congesting the cities.

Nduese who was speaking at the recent inauguration of 141 housing units in the Federal Housing Authority/Tangent Estate in Iretti-Owerri the Imo State capital, said “We have made adequate arrangements for new layouts near large cities to provide site and services and infrastructure made available to avoid congestion.”

He also expressed Federal Governemnt displeasure over seemingly lack of interest by some state governments to check errection of illegal structure and dirty culture, urging such governments to correct the problem.

The minister said “while the housing deficit is being reduced, I wish to draw attention to the deplorable condition of our cities and urban settlement. There is a rapid degeneration of our towns into slums with the unplanned and unregulated buildings, particularly shops springing up in front of well planned residential areas.”

The commissioned houses were in six categories, three-bedroom semi-detached bungalow, three bedroom detached bungalow, four bedroom detached bungalow, among others with landscaped environment and telecom.