Real estate experts express confidence in the new minister of housing

On Wednesday, November 11th, Babatunde Fashola was sworn in as the new minister of power, housing and works.

Although, real estate professionals had earlier expressed displeasure over the president's ministerial list because they longed to have one of their own as the housing minister, they, however, expressed confidence in Fashola.

READ: 4 things the Babatunde Fashola should do in the real estate sector

The Chairman, Estate Surveyors and Valuers Registration Board of Nigeria (ESVARBON), Elder William Odudu, had nothing but good things to say about Fashola.

“With his pedigree in Lagos, it is certain that the nation would witness enormous impact within the industry. I believe he will start with works, infrastructure and that also will align with housing. And for us within the built environment, we are all out to give him the support he needs, although he has quite retinue of experts within the civil service to assist him actualize his dreams. We want him to create enabling environment for private developers to go into mass housing developments, especially, for the less privileged."

"Now, there is concentration for both the high and medium income earners but little or nothing for the low privileged. I do not want to see a situation that government would be undertaking construction of houses by itself, rather, the government should create an enabling environment to encourage private developers, who have the capacity and the technical know-how to deliver mass housing.”

A Rivers State based estate surveyor, Mr. Emmanuel Wike, is judging the new minister based on his good work as the former governor of Lagos state.

"We in the industry are ready willing to partner with him. But we want him to engage the professional bodies within the housing sector, as this will aid the government to deliver on housing mandate. The minister should consider the mass and social housing system, which cater for the low-income people. The government should be able to provide the infrastructure to lessen the burden of housing construction. The minister should provide enabling environment that would encourage the private sector to come in. Also, the government should also improve on the mortgage system. The National Housing Policy should be reviewed to meet the present realities. The minister should sit down with the professionals within the housing sector to see how best we can implement the policy."