Under Bridge Tenants: Declare Emergency Over Housing Crisis, Group Urges FG

The Housing Development Advocacy Network (HDAN) has appealed to the Federal Government to declare a state of emergency in the Housing Industry amidst the looming housing crisis in the country.
This passionate plea comes on the heels of the discovery by the Lagos State government recently of unearthing several dwelling places beneath the Dolphin Estate bridge in Ikoyi, Lagos.

These under-bridge apartments comprised 86 partitioned rooms, measuring “10×10 and 12×10” in size, with occupants paying an average annual rent of N250,000 each.
HDAN makes the appeal to the administration of President Tinubu to take a more pragmatic approach to the Housing situation in the country.

According to them, this is owing to the fact that the Discovery by the Lagos State government mirrors the Housing deficit in Nigeria.

Executive director of HDAN, Festus Adebayo, said the above scenario is but a tiny sliver of such dwellings that are spread across the country.

He said the economic downturn has further added pressure to the Housing Industry, as Citizens are now subjected to difficult, inhumane conditions.

HDAN also condemned the creation of numerous bottlenecks for estate developers to navigate before obtaining building approval.

Additionally, HDAN criticised the requirement of multiple payments, which undoubtedly acts as a barrier to the delivery of affordable housing. This may explain why many estate developers resort to evasive measures and manipulations to reduce costs.

“HDAN takes this opportunity to call upon the Lagos State government to enhance efforts in creating enabling environments for estate developers operating within the state.

“This glaring fact that individuals are now compelled to reside underneath bridges mirrors the stark reality of the prevailing poverty within the country, underscoring the situation of housing in the country.
“Urgent government intervention is needed to stem this tide and bridge the gap, so as to enable Citizens have access to decent living conditions,” he said .