In an effort to tackle the issue of numerous unoccupied buildings in Abuja, the Nigerian federal government contemplates strict measures, with property owners facing tripled ground rents as a penalty.
The Minister of Housing, Ahmed Dangiwa, disclosed this during a tour of key government housing construction sites in Abuja and Niger, including the Mega City Project at Jibi Village, the Apo-Guzape Housing Project, and the Prototype Housing Scheme in Suleja, Niger State.
Dangiwa, emphasising the need to address the prevalence of unoccupied houses, stated that the proposed penalty aims to encourage property owners to either inhabit or lease out their properties, thereby contributing to alleviating the housing deficit.
The minister highlighted the government’s intention to conduct a census of unoccupied estates in Abuja, expressing concern over the contradiction of housing shortages alongside numerous empty properties.
“Any estate that has stayed more than three months unoccupied, we’ll start charging them triple ground rent. That’s what we intend to do,” he explained.
Instructing the Department of Lands and Urban and Regional Planning to take stock of unoccupied estates and provide the names of proprietors, Dangiwa aims to engage with property owners to ensure the effective use of available housing stock.
“We appreciate BUA Cement for assisting the common man by reducing cement prices. However, it’s disheartening that some sellers continue to exploit consumers by selling at higher prices, claiming they purchased at elevated costs. To address this, we are urging BUA to differentiate the new, more affordable stock with a distinct brand.
“This way, consumers can easily identify and purchase cement at the intended lower price. We commend BUA for their initiative and call on other cement producers to follow suit, contributing to alleviating the financial burden on the common man in the country,” the minister stated.
Housing remains a massive challenge for Abuja residents, contributing to at least 10 percent of the country’s 17 million housing deficit, with projections estimating an increase to 22 million by 2030. The high cost of rent in Abuja has led to many unoccupied houses, exacerbating homelessness issues and prompting the government’s decisive measures.
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