ERCAAN National President, Alenkhe advocate housing subsidy to curb housing deficit in Nigeria
The Estate, Rent and Commission Agents Association of Nigeria (E.R.C.A.A.N) has said that it is championing the cause of making government to key into introducing housing subsidy in order to curb housing deficit in the country.
The E.R.C.A.A.N National President, Hon. Godwin Alenkhe made this submission while delivering his speech at the 29th Annual General Meeting/Convention of the National Body held today at the Loungebar and Restaurant, Teslim Balogun Stadium, Surulere in Lagos.
Speaking on the theme of the Convention, titled: ‘Public/Private Partnership Solution To Housing Deficit In Nigeria’, Hon. Alenkhe said the theme was apt as it will address the problems facing home ownership and private sector involvements, adding that his administration will devote the remaining period of their tenureship in advocating housing subsidy in the country.
“We believe that government at all levels can make housing affordable if they create a special fund in subsiding built homes by private sectors for the common man. ERCAAN will embark on this advocacy through the prints and electronic media as our contribution to affordable housing in Nigeria,” Alenkhe added.
According to him, the excess crude oil account could be diverted into housing so that those that can build genuinely investors like Almart, government will call them that they want to take 40 to 50 percent out of the cost so that the man on the street will have a place to put his money.
“They could partner with a mortgage institution and say keep on putting your saving here, and if it is 10 million they will say we are taking four million out of it and the remaining six million will be spread for twenty years so that the man could get something. That is what we are championing and we will continue until we get result. Housing must be subsidized. The poor man on the street must have a roof over his head,” he explained.
He listed what his executive has achieved to include formation of credible committees to assist the national officers in the discharge of their constitutional roles; reconstitute the electoral board to regulate and produce electoral rules and regulations as contained in the constitution; the intents of the South-East and South-South to join the Association and a website www.ercaannational.com.ng to repositioning and rebranding the Association.
He announced the Association’s partnership engagement with the signing of Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with credible firms like Complete Solution UK, Almart Realtors and Latrque International, adding that the Association members are set to benefit from their products which will be unveiled to delegates.
Highlight of the occasion was the unveiling of the Association website www.ercaannational.com.ng