The immediate past Managing Director of Family Homes Funds Limited, Mr. Femi Adewole, has reinforced the need for improved funding of mass housing projects in the country to increase stock with 300,000 homes by 2025.

He noted that if funds were adequately provided, Nigeria would be able to bridge the existing housing gap and adequately shelter the citizens.

Adewole spoke at the second edition of the yearly memorial lecture organised by the Nigerian Institute of Building (NIOB) in honour of late Otunba Fatai lsola Osikoya, a past president of the lnstitute in Lagos.

Late Osikoya was reputed for commitment to professionalism in building and housing development in Nigeria as the first President of NIOB and first Chairman, Council of Registered Builders of Nigeria.

Speaking on the theme: “Agenda for Housing Development in Nigeria: 2023 in Perspective”, Adewole lamented the incessant building collapses in the country in recent times. He tasked operators in the building industry to engage the services of certified professionals to reverse the ugly trend.

He emphasised that Nigeria’s building policy for the coming administration and years ahead should be such that it will increase social housing stock and manage some of the crises that have kept the people’s social standard low.

The President of NIOB, Prof. Yohana Izam, said the topic was chosen to brainstorm with stakeholders on delivering sustainable shelter that addresses the housing needs of the nation through global best practice in the New Year.

Izam who is also the Vice Chancellor of Plateau State University, Jos, said it is imperative to maintain a high standard of competence in housing delivery in Nigeria.

He said: “The Institute notes with concerns the paucity of debates on the very important issue of housing, which impacts greatly on the prosperity of all other sectors of the economy.

On her part, the Special Adviser to the Lagos State Governor, on Works and Infrastructure, Mrs. Aramide Adeyoye, said that the state actors were looking at the professional builders to reform the system, as well as give Nigerians better housing.

The Vice Chairman, Nigerian Instituton of Estate Surveyors and Valuers, Mr. Olugbenga Ismail, emphasized the need to deploy use of local building materials instead of reliance on importation of inputs to drive down cost of construction.