Housing, clothing and foods are the basic needs of every human being. Of the
three, housing problem has become a recurring decimal in Nigeria since
independence.
The cost of housing has continued to skyrocket in the face of poor economic
growth. There are not enough houses for Nigerians to lay their heads.
After the Second World War, the British government in their wisdom built more
than two million houses. That is why till today in Britain, people do not look
for where to build houses, but houses that they will buy and the houses are
always there for sale because they are enough.
But in Nigeria, the reverse is the case because of the neglect of the housing
sector by successive governments, especially over the argument whether private
sector should take over the sector or should government continue to get involved
in it.
Some state governments have hidden under this argument to abandon the sector
completely in the developmental agenda. That is even when it is clear that in
developed economies of the world, governments are still deeply involved in
housing programmes. This is because their involvement will make the houses
affordable, unlike when the sector is being left in the hands of private
investors only.
During the Second Republic in Lagos State, the then governor of the state,
Alhaji Lateef Jakande built a lot of estates especially for the low-income
earners. Till today, the estates have saved a lot of people the problems of
accommodation in the state at affordable rate.
It is one monumental achievement, which Jakande is still being remembered and
respected for in the state and country today, many after he has left office as
governor.
http://www.nigerianewsvilla.com/gov-chief-theodore-orji-havover-estate-to-investors/