The Federal Government has directed that efforts aimed at preventing and relocating slums must strictly take cognisance of the laws of the country, through continuous engagement and dialogue.
Vice President Namadi Sambo made this known on Monday at the National Housing and Slum Summit, which held at the Transcorp Hilton Hotel, Abuja, with the theme: Developing a National Strategy for Mass Housing Delivery and Slum Upgrading, organised by the Federal Ministry of Lands, Housing and Urban Development.
The Vice President, who noted that issues regarding freedom of choice, respect for human rights, respect for human dignity and other forms of individual liberties, are paramount in a democratic setting.
He stressed that,“We must recognize that slums are not only shanties and filthy settlements, but people and indeed inhabitants who have emotional attachments to their dwelling spaces. Efforts aimed at relocating slum dwellers or providing alternative living spaces for them should be undertaken to provide them with better choices through continuous engagements and dialogue.”
Sambo charged stakeholders to partner with the Federal Government in its quest to provide affordable housing and stem the tide of slum development in the country, saying “in developing the proposed National Strategy for Mass Housing Delivery and Slum Upgrading, it is important to note that while mass housing provision and slum prevention are intertwined, the eradication of slums cannot be realized through the building of houses alone.”
Vice President Sambo, while reiterating the commitment of the President Goodluck Jonathan’s administration to reducing the estimated 17 million housing deficit in the country, reassured on the “promotion of sustainable urbanization and implementation of the universal principles for slum upgrading and prevention, in line with our articulated sectoral, policies and strategies.”
He commended the Federal Ministry of Lands, Housing and Urban Development, including other development partners for supporting the Transformation Agenda, particularly regarding the provision of affordable housing for the citizenry.
In his remarks the supervening Minister of the Federal Ministry of Lands, Housing and Urban Development, Musa Sada, said the Summit was convened to provide a platform for stakeholders to rub minds and propose innovative and adaptable strategies for suitable housing delivery and slum upgrading in the country.
Goodwill messages were offered from the National Assembly, the United Nations and also from the private sector.
