The Convener of the forthcoming 12th edition of the Abuja International Housing Show has said that it would promote made in Nigeria building materials to boost affordable housing in the country.
Managing Director, FESADEB Communications Limited and the convener, Mr Festus Adebayo,stated this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja.
Adebayo said that there would be a session and pavilion which would focus on made in Nigeria houses to be championed by the Nigeria Building and Research Institute (NIBRI).
“This would help in achieving affordable housing by promoting made in Nigeria houses to change the orientation which Nigerians have on imported goods”.
He emphasised that Nigerians should change the orientation of always patronising and clamouring for imported building materials.
For an affordable housing to be achieved, he noted that the show would be looking into partnering with public and private organisations on locally made building materials.
According to him, the show was looking forward to partner with both government and private organisations in boosting locally made materials.
He urged the Federal Government to boost patronage on locally made houses to achieve affordable houses.
Adebayo said “Recently the National Assemblies patronised Innoson Ltd. and bought some made in Nigeria cars, the government can as well see how we can partner to promote made in Nigeria houses together. The government will not only promote it rather it will lead by patronising by giving incentives to those who are interested in building houses with locally sourced materials.
“The show must also address the issue of regulation of cement price because the price is too high in the country.”
The convener noted that it was also partnering with some companies into alternative housing construction like the Earth Bricks houses.
He listed the companies to include Hydraform Ltd., Ireclay in Akure, Ipile Earth Brick in Kuje, Abuja and Shelter Clay in Minna.
Adebayo further said that it would also promote house ownership through “Not Too Young to Own a Home’’ session.
“The whole idea is to address the attitude by some of our adults who do not develop the interest of owning a home until they are 45 or 50 years. We want to champion an idea where the youths are being caught very young; by the age of 33 they are already receiving lectures on how to own a home even one or two bedroom.
“Today a lot of adults do not even know what is mortgage and we have the National Housing Fund (NHF) which has been operating for many years which a lot of civil servants do not even know how to access it.We are introducing “Not Too Young to Own a Home’’ to re-orientate our youths so that the problem of housing deficit will be addressed on time,” he added.
