AfDB calls for integrated approach to address housing deficit in Nigeria, Africa

<h2></h2>, <p>AfDB, DG stated that the Federal Mortgage Bank of Nigeria estimated current deficit at 28 million units, the Bank of Industry (BOI) estimated that ₦21 trillion would be required to bridge the housing gap.</p>, <span>AfDB calls for integrated approach to address housing deficit in Nigeria, Africa</span>, <h2>The African Development Bank (AfDB), has reiterated the need for an integrated approach to address housing deficit in Nigeria and the African continent.</h2>, <p>The AfDB Director-General, Nigeria Country Department, Lamin Barrow said this at the Annual Africa International Housing Show( AIHS) with the theme, “Beyond Rhetoric to Homes: Making Housing Happen”.</p>, <p>According to Barrow, the theme of the event cannot be more apt considering the urgency in bridging Nigeria’s soaring housing deficit. He said the discussions was therefore important to accelerate actions towards achieving the United Nations (UN) Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) 11 targets across the continent.</p>, <p>Barrow quoted the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), as saying that Nigeria’s housing deficit increased from 14 million units in 2010 to 20 million units in 2019.</p>, <p>He said while the Federal Mortgage Bank of Nigeria (FMBN) estimated current deficit at 28 million units, the Bank of Industry (BOI) estimated that ₦21 trillion would be required to bridge the housing gap.</p>, <p>“The imperative for increasing access to adequate housing cannot be over-emphasised.</p>, <p>“Considering the fact that improved access to decent housing and related basic services for households have direct impacts on health, education, and productivity of the population.</p>, <p>“It is fair to say that to a large extent, life outcomes are linked to access to decent housing. “So improving the enabling environment and development of housing value chains are therefore key for Africa to achieve its ambitions for inclusive growth and socio-economic transformation,” he said.</p>, <p>On AfDB’s interventions, Barrow said it was informed by the goal t