By Chris Ochayi

The S.P.O. Fortune-Ebie -led committee saddled with the review of draft national housing and urban development polices in the country, is expected to submit its report to the Minister of Housing and Urban Development, Ms Amal Pepple this week.

The Minister had two weeks ago, set up the committee to be headed by the former managing director of Nairobi-based Shelter Afrique and pioneer managing director of the Federal Housing Authority, FHA.

Ebie who is a mortgage banking expert and 4th President of the Nigerian Institution of Estate Surveyors and Valuers, NIESV, was assisted on the committee by an architect, Ezekiel Nya-Etok.

Ms. Pepple had told members of the committee that the reviewed policies when adopted by the government, would provide appropriate framework for the regulation and management of housing and urban development in order to achieve the transformation agenda of President Goodluck Jonathan.

The committee was mandated to review and update the draft national housing and urban development policies in line with the priorities outlined in the transformation agenda of the present administration.

“To engage with all relevant stakeholders and partners in order to feed their respective inputs into the draft and thereafter present for consideration, updated policies reflecting the shared views of all relevant partners for the revitalisation of the housing and urban development sector.”

The Minister urged the team to ponder on how to improve access to land and housing finance for the people, reduce the cost of housing and improve access to it as a basic human need among others.