₦airaland Forum

Phraences:
I know the govt intends to give the houses to low and middle income earners as part of its social housing initiative and at first i thought it was a good idea until i read some opinions on Punch newspapers which makes serious sense. I HOPE THE GOVT LISTENS TO THIS ADVICE. The link is below.

An excerpt

A former President, Association of Town Planning Consultants of Nigeria, Mr Moses Ogunleye, doubted the possibility of low-income earners benefitting from the houses.

He said, “If those properties have four bedrooms, I don’t think they can be for low-income earners. Is the Federal Government going to finish those structures before it sell them? If they are going to do so, low-income earners will not be able to afford them. If they want to give them to low-income earners as they are, the buyers are going to be spending a lot of money.

“Maybe what they can do, in addition to the structural integrity test, is a cost analysis. I am not sure the roads have been done, or if water supply and electricity have been provided. What will make the estate habitable? Considering the value of land in that place, we can have an affordable housing development in that location, but it is not going to be a public support housing project. The total cost of completing it is going to be too expensive for low-income earners. I would say maybe middle-income earners may be able to afford it, but no real low-income earner would be able to.”

The President, Fajiri Construction Limited, Stephen Eke, said the government’s plan though noble, was largely impractical.

He said, “This is given the high-end materials and premium construction standards typically associated with such properties. These estates are usually designed for luxury and exclusivity, making them structurally and financially incompatible with the affordability thresholds required for social or middle-income housing. Attempting to convert them for such purposes would either undermine their value or result in minimal cost reductions, defeating the goal of accessibility for the target demographic.

“A more pragmatic approach would be to sell the estate at market value and channel the proceeds into a dedicated social housing fund. This strategy ensures that the high value of the seized property is fully realized and redistributed in a way that has a far greater impact. With the funds, government or development agencies can construct multiple units of affordable housing specifically designed for low and middle-income earners, using cost-efficient materials and designs suited to their needs. This model promotes equity, sustainability, and scale in addressing Nigeria’s housing deficit.

“The fund from the sale of Emefiele’s seized estate should be managed by a consortium of developers experienced in mass housing projects. This approach ensures that the resources are efficiently directed toward building affordable, large-scale housing designed specifically for low- and middle-income earners.”

Also, a former President, Nigerian Institute of Building and Pioneer National President, Building Collapse Prevention Guild, Mr Kunle Awobodu, said the valuation of the property needed to be done.

“Then, they will know whether it will be discounted or not. The government is getting the building almost free of charge, so it means that it is going to be subsidised because of the value of the land and the cost of materials presently.

“It was constructed not too long ago. The government should offer it at a subsidised rate. It should be gradual, like a mortgage. They should go and do a valuation of the buildings and internal calculations before they come out with the necessary prices.”

In the same vein, the Chief Executive Officer of Magnificent Choice Services Project and Engineering Ltd, Jeremiah Akinsele, said the seized estate should be sold strictly at its current market value, determined through a thorough evaluation by professional estate valuers whose reports set the price objectively.

He said, “Attempting to sell such high-value properties at discounted rates to low- and middle-income earners is unrealistic and prone to abuse, as it often leads to resale by wealthy individuals or politicians, undermining the original intent. Moreover, low-income earners simply do not have the financial capacity to purchase or maintain such expensive properties, considering the minimum wage in Nigeria is around N70,000, it is practically impossible for them to afford a plot of land or upkeep a luxurious estate in places like Abuja.

“Selling these estates at market rates ensures transparency and fairness while preventing distortions in the housing market. It also avoids burdening buyers with unsustainable management and maintenance costs that typically accompany high-end properties, costs that low-income earners are ill-equipped to handle. The proceeds from these sales can then be wisely reinvested into building affordable housing tailored specifically for low- and middle-income groups, where costs and designs align with their real financial realities.”

Corroborating this, the Chief Executive Officer of Ace Hi-Tech Construction Co. Ltd., Adewunmi Okupe, said the existing buildings were not affordable for low- and middle-income earners in their current form.

He noted, “Putting the estate up for sale is a good idea, but the existing buildings are simply not affordable for low- and middle-income earners in their current form. To make the estate accessible to this income bracket, there is a need to remodel the properties into smaller, more affordable units. Each large unit on the estate could be subdivided into four or more smaller apartments, significantly increasing the number of affordable homes available.

“This remodeling approach would help bridge the gap between the current luxury design and the financial realities of low- and middle-income buyers. By creating multiple smaller units from each existing building, the estate can better serve the housing needs of a broader population while making efficient use of the available space. This strategy offers a practical pathway to expanding affordable housing without the need for entirely new developments.”

The spokesperson for the Nigerian Institute of Building, Godfrey Godfrey, said the proposed duplex structures were far beyond what the average Nigerian worker could afford.

“We are talking about a duplex in Africa. So, honestly, it is not within the reach of a low-income earner in Nigeria. Even a middle-income earner will not be able to afford this, considering the current economic situation,” he stated.

Godfrey expressed concern that the properties might ultimately be acquired by the political elite through the back door.

“Those in government may end up finding a way to acquire them for themselves. The intended low- or even middle-income earners may never get hold of them because we know political patronage is what thrives in this part of the world,” he added.

To address the concern, Godfrey suggested that the process of allocating the houses should be transparent and inclusive.

Similarly, the General Secretary of the Nigerian Institute of Quantity Surveyors, Azeez Ayodabo, said the pricing of the duplexes renders them inaccessible to their target audience.

“Looking at the cost of those buildings, they may not be less than N100m to N200m per unit at the moment,” he said, adding that such pricing is well beyond the reach of most Nigerians, especially those earning the new minimum wage of N70,000 per month.

“For those working in the private sector, it’s even worse. Affordability is the first issue the government must consider,” Ayodabo noted.

He further proposed that the government explore a structural redesign of the project to make it more inclusive.

“You have duplexes, but what does a low-income earner want to do living there and maintaining it? One duplex can be remodelled into about four flats. That way, low-income earners can afford it and also be able to maintain it,” he advised.


https://punchng.com/emefieles-753-duplexes-fg-to-sell-houses-to-low-middle-income-nigerians/

Wispower:
This is a good move never mind that all the committee members are from one tribe, Emefilele tried though as a nationalist criminal he invested the money at home unlike others who dumped their loots in the foreign banks.resell the houses to Nigerians who own the looted money

gasparpisciotta:
Some one here was arguing that Emefiele is not corrupt

@lexy2014 come and see 👀 oh!

motymop:
Music executive..lol

We don't know one source of income and the other one just came back from a scandal of theft and owning people money.

Soon, the music executive will use this meeting to create another scam, this time,he will say he has access to the president for sale

I am even shocked that the president can meet these type of people

Penguin2:
I agree. But Makinde did what he did for whatever reason best known to him. But is Wike not supposed to respect that fraternity Makinde showed him in 2023 and not call him out already in 2025?

What does that say of Wike’s character?

EponObi:
That house na the real last man standing.

BTW, they did a shoddy job. They only sand filled. For an area literally consumed by erosion, you would expect better drainage system. The so called drainage they implemented is not wide enough and walls are way too thin. I can see they used red mud for the sand filling self. Bad job, but trust them to hype nonsense. They just fed the erosion new materials to chow.

Upon further examination, I can see the drainage is not even deep. Lmaooo.

Gboom:
Lagos topography is different from Aba, before LASG take decision, they always consider long term effect on the environment. From what I'm seeing here, those houses closed to the gully should have been demolished to pave way for proper refilling of the gully to avoid future occurrence

SeeWahala:
Oya the obi effect

I'm proudly Obidient for a better Nigeria

mdokaba1:
Despite the lingering insecurity in the northeast, it didn’t stop us from celebrating our young stars - their joy is unstoppable. The even featured fun activities such as like sack race, blind race and egg race.

But beyond the speeches, promises, and photo ops, it’s time to move from words to action.

Let’s work together to secure a future worthy of these children’s dreams.

Celestialsword:
You have to throw congratulations at him first because success doesn't come cheap,he should be celebrated.

Celestialsword:
first throw congratulations at him.

Celestialsword:
it was a swamp that was sand filled

Celestialsword:
Not everyone's sources of income is in the public domain like dangotes.
That aside, you don't have the right to know someone else's sources of wealth.Except of course if he is vying for a sensitive public office,then he can declare his assets

Celestialsword:
first throw congratulations at him.

Celestialsword:
You can't know the sources of everyone's wealth,like dangote.but first throw congratulations at him.

No source of wealth is easy, good or bad, it's grace

Nackzy:
Money na water

Penguin2:
If Wike is already fighting with Makinde, then I’m laughing at Tinubu and his supporters.

How can everybody be looking for one man’s trouble, and everyone else is always wrong and he’s always right?

Such a person is always either a saint or a fool.

Gunayo:
Evil hand of opposition party to paint Tinubu led government bad. Jagaban till 2031.

Bluntemperor:
He thinks he is in Nigeria,where anything goes.
Since this govt came to Power, their wings has been cut and rendered incommunicado and that is how to treat this man and all their Footsoldiers who are using Religion as a Weapon and Indirectly fight the govt in Power,by Deceiving the gaulibles audiences on Social Media.
Don't forget their Clandestine Activities in Kaduna then, through Blood orgy but always coming for Negotiations and Using same money to settle.
That is why the Security in the North has Refused to go because they - many knows much about it!
So,so terrible for Nigeria

LordBiden:
Good one from saudi authorities,Gumi is a security threat to any nation.

If I where president I would have my NSA chief place him under strict surveillance,his bank accounts monitored,his phone calls wiretapped

Vision101:
What was the subject of discussion? Oh out of hatred you vired away from the subject of discussion.

Vision101:
Is there any ordinary Nigerian that own any of these properties?

StaffofOrayan:
Christian camps, Muslims jumat prayers etc all restricts peoples movement, loud speakers are noise pollution, all of you with ur silly religions disturbing people because you want to go meet god in heaven, yet una no go gree die and fokoff

id911:
So? He was born in Atlanta. Is any American more American than him (according to their constitution?)

gasparpisciotta:
One lack of proper evidence out of many other ‘prima facie’ evidences doesn’t mean he is not guilty of corrupt practices.

If this one item doesn’t convict him, others will.

If e sure for Dieziani she should take the next flight to Nigeria…

gasparpisciotta:
This is just one out the many allegations levied against Emefiele.
He has already been found guilty of some with enough evidence to send him to the gallows, but trust Nigeria, corruption will still rear its ugly head and he will be set free with a slap on his wrist.

oluwaseyi0:
This same issue of changing narrative is why she put it on social media because after said and done she can't trust the system or PCN to protect her

Chilipepper:
Pharmacy graduate cries out after being dismissed for refusing to sell Diazepam without a doctor’s prescription — ‘I was only doing the right thing’.


OBIANUJUAKU (@obianuju_pc) wrote:



https://x.com/obianuju_pc/status/1926996226236395793?t=Fv2JjyGN74nuPLPV9-hi2w&s=19[/quote]where is the cry out?

did she give the name of the boss and the name of the place she was employed?

adenigga:
Research! He was born in U.S

kuntash:
lol

I am sure this is similar to the loudspeakers or noise (so to speak) by other religious bodies some people complain about , particularly Mosques and churches.
And even laws are made to tame such nuisance . why hasnt same be applied here ?

Osimhen’s clever nod to Nigerian-American music star Davido

gasparpisciotta:
Evidence or not, revelations on Emefiele has proven that he just behind Dieziani in Nigeria’s very bad corruption cases.

“In 2018, I can’t remember the date, Mr. Eric Odoh sent me a WhatsApp message that I should collect $400,000 from John Ayoh and give it to the former CBN Governor when he came to Lagos. I went to Ayoh’s house in Lekki, collected an envelope, and gave it to the governor,” Adetola told the court.

When asked why he did not document the transaction or provide any proof, he said “I did not see any need for it.”

gasparpisciotta:
Revelations from Emefiele’s court case shows the high level of corruption in high places in Nigeria.

Until embezzlement of public funds is punishable by death, we may still continue to wallow in this cesspit of corruption.

Imagine some civil servants having close to 1bil Naira in their savings account from proceeds of corrupt practices 🙆

“In 2018, I can’t remember the date, Mr. Eric Odoh sent me a WhatsApp message that I should collect $400,000 from John Ayoh and give it to the former CBN Governor when he came to Lagos. I went to Ayoh’s house in Lekki, collected an envelope, and gave it to the governor,” Adetola told the court.

When asked why he did not document the transaction or provide any proof, he said “I did not see any need for it.”

phemray:
Very interesting and intelligent Logical analogy from PBAT. I love the Grab it. It's applicable to all life opportunity for only those that are intelligent. PBAT first stated that in 2003 and it's really working in all aspects of life.
Opportunity don't come with label. Once missed may never come back.
Like a goal keeper that catches an unexpected short within box 18, he grabs it and run with it. Lolz

dheilaw1:
is that why they should not pay ground rent? You like to cry a lot.