The Nigerian federal government is considering strict measures to address the issue of numerous unoccupied buildings in Abuja, especially those left vacant for over three months.
The Minister of Housing, Ahmed Dangiwa, revealed that property owners who neither reside in their houses nor rent them out may face tripled ground rents as a penalty.
During a tour of various government housing construction sites in Abuja and Niger, the minister visited locations such as the Mega City Project at Jibi Village, the Apo-Guzape Housing Project, and the Prototype Housing Scheme in Suleja, Niger State.
Dangiwa inspected multiple projects, emphasizing the need to address the prevalence of unoccupied houses in Abuja.
The proposed penalty aims to encourage property owners to either inhabit or lease out their properties, thereby contributing to addressing the housing deficit.
Dangiwa highlighted the government’s intention to conduct a census of unoccupied estates in Abuja, expressing concern over the contradiction of having both housing shortages and numerous empty properties.
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He explained, “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.”
The Minister emphasized the importance of utilizing existing housing resources to address the housing deficit.
Furthermore, Dangiwa instructed the Department of Lands and Urban and Regional Planning to take stock of unoccupied estates and provide the names of proprietors.
The government aims to engage with property owners and implement the proposed penalties to ensure the effective use of available housing stock.
This initiative reflects the government’s commitment to optimizing existing housing infrastructure and addressing the housing challenges faced by residents in Abuja.
“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 emphasized.
