Abuja: A Civil Society Organisation (CSO), Connected Development, has called on the Federal Government to address the housing needs of citizens and tackle the rising inequality in the nation. This appeal was made by Hamzat Lawal, the Chief Executive of Connected Development, during the commemoration of the 5th anniversary of BraveRock Group, a real estate firm, held in Abuja.

According to News Agency of Nigeria, Lawal emphasized the global commitment to ensure that by 2030, every individual has adequate shelter, noting that only five years remain to meet the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). He highlighted the importance of Sustainable Development Goal 10, which focuses on reducing inequality, and expressed the belief that addressing the housing deficit would lead to a healthier lifestyle for citizens and support economic growth.

Lawal commended BraveRock Group for their consistent and integrity-driven approach to real estate, pointing out their success in empowering young professionals and creating sustainable jobs. He advocated for government interventions to enhance SDG Goal 17 on partnerships, urging the establishment of public-private partnerships to provide affordable housing and reduce inequality.

He further recommended the creation of a national housing data centre for collecting reliable data to inform policy and planning. Lawal also suggested inclusive land reforms to encourage the productive use of vacant land, promote affordable housing finance models tailored for low-income earners, and encourage the use of local, low-cost building materials and green technologies.

Usman Zambuk, the Managing Director of BraveRock Group, shared the company’s achievements, stating that they have delivered 350 housing units since 2020. He outlined the company’s goal to more than double this number in the next five years, while noting the significant housing deficit in Nigeria, which stands at 28 million.

Zambuk expressed the company’s commitment to providing affordable housing but highlighted challenges such as the high cost of land, imported building materials, and financing. He expressed optimism that the partnership with Connected Development would facilitate access to land and finance, acknowledging the efforts of the FCT Minister in infrastructure development.