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Transcript/Script((PLAYBOOK SLUG: Nigeria Housing Deficit (TV)
HEADLINE: Millions in Nigeria Struggle for Affordable Housing Amid Real Estate Boom
TEASER:
PUBLISHED AT: Thursday, 02/24/2022 at 818pm
BYLINE: Timothy Obiezu
CONTRIBUTOR:
DATELINE: Abuja, Nigeria
VIDEOGRAPHER: Emeka Gibson
VIDEO EDITOR:
PRODUCER:
SCRIPT EDITORS: MAS, BR
VIDEO SOURCE (S): All VOA
PLATFORMS (mark with X): WEB __ TV _x_ RADIO __
TRT: 3:26
VID APPROVED BY: Jepsen
TYPE: TVPKG
EDITORS NOTE: ))
((INTRO))
[[Nigeria's real estate market has been expanding rapidly but so has the number of people in need of housing in Africa's most populous country. Nigeria's Central Bank says the country suffers a growing deficit of at least 22 million homes. Timothy Obiezu reports from Abuja.]]
((Video/VOA :- Drone shots of highrise buildings, various shots of buildings, Precious Nwajiaku in her one room apartment))
((NARRATOR))
Nigeria’s real estate market grew by 3.85 percent last year, its highest in six years.
Experts say cities like Lagos and Abuja have the kind of buildings and architecture that are in high demand.
Even as the demand for higher priced real estate increases, access to affordable housing is difficult for millions in Nigeria.
Fashion designer Precious Nwajiaku moved to Abuja in January.
((Precious Nwajiaku, Abuja Resident)) ((In English, secs))
"I had to stay with my friend in Maraba for a week before getting myself here. And here is inside - like off town - and it's as well expensive, not even cheap"
((Video/VOA :- shots of Nwajiaku's neighborhood))
((NARRATOR))
Nwajiaku paid one year's rent of $300 for this one room apartment, but it does not even include basic comforts.
((Precious Nwajiaku, Abuja Resident)) ((In English, 10 secs))
"You pay for water, there's no water inside. As you can see there's no light, there's nothing, there's no good road".
((Video/VOA :- More shots of Nwajiaku's neighborhood, shots of expensive estates in Abuja, shots of government's housing scheme))
((NARRATOR))
The housing disparity reflects Nigeria’s economic divide.
The World Bank says 22 million people in Nigeria do not have the housing they need, the highest number in the world.
It’s an issue Nigerian authorities have been promising to address for many years. In 2019, government officials pledged to supply one million affordable houses each year to help meet the demand for proper housing.
But experts say the housing programs are not keeping up with Nigeria’s population growth each year.
((Festus Adebayo, Housing Development Advocacy Network)) ((In English, secs))
"If Nigeria is producing to the rate of five million every year, how many units of houses has the government or private sector produced in a year?”
((Video/VOA :- various shots of Adebayo, shots of Abuja housing show, Interview sequences - Banji Adeyemo))
((NARRATOR))
Festus Adebayo, who runs an advocacy campaign for affordable houses, hosts an annual gathering and housing show. It aims to bring government and industry together to address the lack of affordable housing.
Adebayo warns housing gaps will only worsen by the time Nigeria's population hits the estimated 400 million in 2050.
Property developer Banji Adeyemo cites several factors for the high cost of building homes.
((Banji Adeyemo, Property Developer)) ((In English, secs))
"This is an era where foreign exchange has taken a new toll entirely and most of the construction materials have foreign input. [[Cutaways]] Governments needs to bring down the cost of land and it will reflect on the cost of production by developers for houses. Because other materials you don't have control over them."
((Video/VOA :- shots of lawmakers, more shots of houses, shots of Nwajiaku in her neighborhood))
((NARRATOR))
Nigerian lawmakers are considering a bill that calls for rent to be paid monthly instead of once a year to ease the financial burden on citizens.
But unless more houses are built, say experts, the gap will only widen, and millions will suffer without one of life's most basic needs – affordable shelter.
((Timothy Obiezu, for VOA News, Abuja, Nigeria))
NewsML Media TopicsSociety
NetworkVOA
Embargo DateFebruary 24, 2022 20:19 EST
Brand / Language ServiceVoice of America - English
