By YINKA Kolawole
Property developers, under the aegis of Real Estate Developers Association of Nigeria (REDAN), has called on the federal government to reconstitute the National Housing council (NHC) to facilitate improved implementation of recommendations on national housing policy and boost housing delivery in the country.

They also made a case for government to commence the process of setting up a presidential commission to enquire into the issue of non_ compliance of banks, insurance and the related companies, with the provision of the National Housing Fund (NHA) Act, which prescribes mandatory contribution to the fund.

The developers made the call during a courtesy call on the Minister of Lands, Housing and Urban Development, Nduese Essien, where they commended the minister on the recent reconstitution of the board of the Federal Mortgage Bank of Nigeria (FMBN)in accoradnce with the FMBN Act.

President of the association, who spoke on their behalf, also applauded the minister on his commitment to ensuring payment of outstanding FMBN share subscription by Central Bank Nigeria (CBN), as well as, commissioning of the Federal Land Information System (FELIS) and assurance of timely issuance of Certificate of Occupancy (C of O) to beneficiaries of housing unit by REDAN members in the spirit of public private participation (PPP) scheme.

He however, appealed to the minister that he should ensure that the proposed presidential commission enforces compliance by defaulting establishments with the said provisions and immediate remittance of the contributions as prescribed in the Act and to ensure the full implementation of the Mobogunje committee’s recommendations on National Housing Policy (NHP).

The developers also requested that a date be set for the launching of a National Housing programme to provide an average of 1000 housing units in each local government area over the next four years, while also calling for presidential approval for a housing sector intervention fund to galvanize the housing sector and thereby provide jobs for at least 10 million Nigerians.

Essien, in his response, assured the developers that the Federal Government is already considering various options to further inject funds into the housing sector. While pledging the commitment of the present administration to housing development in the country, he promised them that their demands would be looked into.