Association Advocates Housing Sector Reforms

A group, the Rivers Co
operative Communication, Transport and Investment Association (RCCTIA), has urged both the Federal  and State governments to introduce a reform in the housing sector that would ensure provision of sufficient houses for low-income earners.
President of the association, Mr. Abel Echionwu, who spoke with The Tide recently noted that houses were very much needed in the suburbs, but that real attention had not been given to this demand.
He said that some agencies of government both at the state and Federal levels such as the Federal Housing Authority had for about 15 years now, sourced funds through banks and pre-sales subscriptions to build houses, but that government had not really shown keen interest on it.
Echionwu stated that houses built by FHA should be affordable to low-income earners and appealed to Federal Government to enhance the efficiency of the authorities in housing delivery.
He regretted however that efforts made by many estate developers in housing provision were focused and executed at high income earners in the urban centres.
Echionwu said that an assessment made on the activities of the Rivers State Housing and Property Development Authority (RSHPDA) has shown that the authority has not really delivered on its mandate, as they still battle on how to secure mortgage to fund development.
The co-operation told The Tide that many civil servants had  not benefited from their contributions to the National Housing Fund domiciled at the Federal Mortgage Bank of Nigeria.
He, therefore, urged government to evolve policy that will make mortgage funds available to developers, to accelerate quick housing delivery.

Corlins Walter