A housing expert,  Mr William Odudu, has said that more initiatives on Public-Private Partnership (PPP) projects would help to surmount the nation’s lingering housing deficit.

Odudu, a former President, Nigerian Institution of Estate Surveyors and Valuers (NIESV), made the observation in an interview with The Tide source in Lagos on Thursday after the NIESV Annual General Meeting.

According to him, cordial relationship among government, corporate and cooperative organisations, non-governmental organisations and other stakeholders in the housing sector will help to provide houses for the masses.

He said that the private sector had the resources to provide answers to the problem of housing deficit in the country.

According to him, enormous other contributions are needed to supplement governments’ efforts to address the housing shortage in the country.

“Since our housing needs are increasing as our population grows, it is necessary to look for other effective alternatives to tackle this menace of housing shortage.

“With the collective efforts of the private sector, our housing challenges will be a thing of the past,” he said.

Odudu said that the provision of shelter to the citizenry was wholly the responsibility and obligation of government.

“Every citizen is entitled to a livable and affordable accommodation from the government.

“But since it has became difficult for government to accomplish this duty due our growing population and other hindrances, it is best to liaise with other entities to achieve the task.

“Government, however, needs to put the enabling environment in place for PPP to become functional, “ he said.