From left Festus Adebayo, convener Abuja Housing Show, Sen. Bukola Saraki, Senate President, Osita Izunaso, National Organising Secretary, APC, Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, Kano State Governor and Babatunde Raji Fashola, Minister for Power, Works and Housing at the Opening Ceremony of the 10th Abuja Housing show.
The Housing and Construction Industry Exhibition stands at the ongoing 10th Abuja Housing Show (AHS) have recorded a high turnout of participants from within and outside Nigeria.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that exhibition of affordable homes, innovative building materials, construction machinery, mortgage services and home interiors, among others are on display by both local and foreign exhibitors.
The show, which is the largest in West Africa, is organised by FESADEB Communications Ltd., a leading media outfit in the Nigeria Housing/Construction Industry and owners of housing programmes on AIT, NTA, RAY Power and Publishers Housing NEWS.
The 2016 edition was declared open by the Nigerian Senate President, Dr. Bukola Saraki and was attended by Kano State Governor, Minister for Power, Works and Housing, Barr. Babatunde Fashola, Minister of State for Environment , Jibrin Ibrahim, many senators and 23 commissioners of Housing from various State of the Federation.
The Speaker of the House of Representative, Hon. Yakubu Dogara was represented by Hon. Mustapha Dawaki, Chairman House Committee on Housing, Also at the event was Turkey ambassador to Nigeria
The Home Expo featured Exhibitors from 10 Countries and major stakeholders from different area of the Nigeria Housing Industries including Mortgage Banks, Commercial Banks, CBN, Bank of infrastructure, African Development Bank, Home Interior Company, Estate Development Companies,Professional Bodies and heads of Housing Related Agencies.
Some of the exhibitors and participants, who spoke to NAN described the show as an avenue to embrace the latest technologies in the housing and construction industry with innovative ways of expanding access to housing in the sector.
Mr Bukola Adebisi, Technical Service Engineer, LAFARGE Africa Plc., noted that traditionally people knew the company as a manufacturer and distributor of cement but that the exhibition would help to enlighten people about many of its other products.
“Apart from manufacturing and selling cement, we deliver effective and reliable concrete solutions ready mix at project sites based on project time, quality and scope requirement; we render professional services on design and costing.’’
Adebisi noted that the organisation was not into building houses for sale, rather, it could finance and provide affordable housing solutions through low interest rates of 1.6 per cent.
He said that the organisation could help to facilitate the disbursement of loans through its partnership with LAPO Microfinance Bank Ltd., and equally provide management support.
Mr Gurudas Kamat of LOTTO SOUDAL, an EMEL Authorised Distributor in Nigeria, said that the show had brought the company to a limelight thereby exposing the participants to new housing products in the industry.
Kamat said that the SOUDAL Group, which is in its 50th year of existence, is a world leader in building materials.
The SOUDAL Group is the largest independent European manufacturer of premium quality sealants, adhesives, silicones and Flexible Polyurethane Foams for professional and private users.
Mr. Olatunji Aiyedogbon, Area Sales Coordinator, Sandtex Portland Paints and Products Nigeria Plc., said government and stakeholders in the industry should go beyond theory and embrace action to boost the sector.
According to her, the company produces decorative paints for houses and marine protective coatings (paints for sea pipelines, oil and gas industry and shipping industry).
Also, Shakti Mohanty of Royal, a company which manufactures assorted locally made tiles rated the show as a world class expo.
Mohanty called for favourable policies and interest rate reduction to create an enabling environment for the players in the housing sector to grow.
Geoff French, Specialty Sales Manager, KOPPERS Performance Chemicals Protim Solignum Ltd., a major brand in wood preservatives, advocated the use of wood in housing construction in the country.
According to him, wood can adapt to climate change better than cement and blocks obtained in Nigeria.
KOPPERS, based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, U.S. is a global chemical and materials company with focus on wood preservatives and white ant destroyer.
It is a leading integrated producer of carbon compounds and treated wood products for the aluminium, steel, chemical, rubber and railroad products.
A participant, who pleaded anonymity, commended the massive turnout of participants and exhibitors at the show, however, called on the Federal Government to key into the idea and vision of Abuja Housing Show Organisers, he also called on stakeholders to see the event as a must attend event because of the gains attached to the event.
This year Abuja Housing Show was attended by 182 Exhibitors.