REPS URGE FG TO PROVIDE RELIABLE DATA ON HOUSING DEFICIT. (PHOTO).

 Reps Urge FG to Provide Reliable Data on Housing Deficit

The House of Representatives has called on the Federal Government to provide accurate, scientific, and verifiable data on the nation’s housing deficit and to enhance access to affordable housing.

The resolution was made during Tuesday’s plenary after adopting a motion titled "Provision of Affordable Housing in Nigeria," sponsored by Emmanuel Ukpong-Udo, the lawmaker representing Ikono/Ini Federal Constituency in Akwa Ibom State.

In his support for the motion, Ukpong-Udo emphasized that reliable data is a crucial factor in the planning and execution of government projects at all levels. He pointed out that the housing sector in Nigeria, which faces a significant deficit, is hindered by the lack of credible data to effectively plan and implement housing policies and strategies.

"The housing sector in Nigeria, with its vast deficit, lacks reliable data for the planning and execution of housing policies and strategies," Ukpong-Udo said.

The House expressed concern over the fact that, according to the World Population Review, more than 24 million Nigerians are homeless and do not have access to adequate housing with basic amenities.

Nigeria, the House noted, is among the top 10 countries with the largest homeless populations, leading with 24 million, followed by Pakistan, Egypt, Syria, and Congo.

Additionally, the lawmakers criticized the country’s dependence on World Bank reports for housing data. They stressed that for the nation to grow and remain stable, it must have its own reliable housing data and an efficient housing market that can provide decent shelter for its citizens.

After adopting the motion, Speaker Tajudeen Abbas directed the Committee on Housing and Habitat to work with the Federal Ministry of Housing and Urban Development to address the shortage of credible, scientific data on housing in the country and ensure that affordable and decent housing is accessible to all.