The immediate past Chairman, Nigerian Institute of Architects (NIA), Mrs Abimbola Ajayi, has attributed the scarcity of affordable houses to low involvement of private sector in housing delivery.

Ajayi said this in an interview with newsmen in Lagos on the sideline of the ongoing “Lagos Architects Forum 2013’’.

According to her, active participation of private sector in building construction will go a long way to reduce the cost of houses, provide affordable accommodation and address the issue of housing deficit.

“Since it has become difficult for the government alone to build enough houses for the populace, it can still provide houses for low-income earners through the Private-Public Partnership (PPP),’’ she said.

Ajayi said that for the PPP to make significant impact in addressing the housing needs of the majority, the government needs to go beyond the provision of land and policy frameworks.

According to her, government should grant incentives to private housing developers.

“Examples of such incentives are import duty waivers on building materials, provision of credit facilities through effective mortgage scheme and tax relief.

“Introduction of realistic building regulations and the removal of restrictive legislation, such as the Land Use Act of 1978 and some of the factors that could create a conducive environment for private sector to operate.”

Ajayi also attributed the high cost of houses to the high cost of building materials and other challenges encountered by developers in the course of their construction.

“If the cost of building can be highly subsidised and other challenges tackled, private investors will be able to build at low cost and let at cheaper rates.’’.

Ajayi urged partners in the PPP to convert some percentages of their equity holdings and profits into provision of low-income housing as part of their social responsibility initiatives.