‘Poor Urbanisation, Bane Of Adequate Housing In Rivers’

A town planner and one-
time director in the Department of Town-Planning, Ministry of Urban Development and Physical Planning, Asemsoka Adoki, says the disorderly condition of Rivers State, especially its main city, Port Harcourt, is as a result of uncontrolled and unplanned urbanisation process.
Adoki, who made this assertion in a chat with The Tide, in Port Harcourt on Monday stated that the situation also resulted in the huge housing deficit being experienced in the state and indeed nationwide .
He noted with regret that the worst affected of those needing housing were the low-income earners, whom he said the government has not taken into consideration.
According to him presently, majority of the populace live in the cities, saying that government needs to start searching for ways to help low-income earning families with affordable housing, this he said will build a stable family structure.
Adoki further said, providing housing for low-income earners will be a quick fix to the rapid urbanisation as we have seen over the years.
He pointed out, however, that care should be taken in handling the low income earners housing programme, reasoning that some people get displaced and those who already have their housing need met end up getting these houses for their own personal gains.
He also stated that government has no need demolishing houses, saying, there are underutilized buildings and land spaces, which could be restructured to raise affordable housing to address the housing deficit, adding that nearness to basic infrastructure should also be considered when situating the buildings.

Tonye Nria-Dappa