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Low Cost Houses Panacea To Housing Deficit In Nigeria – Expert
By Aaron Ossai
Former Chief Building Engineer, Cross River State Government, Lands and Housing, Engr. Fidel Aju Ogar has said that provision of low cost houses for low income earners is capable of solving the prevalent housing deficit in Nigeria.
Ogar who stated this in a paper titled ‘Delivering (Actually) Affordable Shelter’ at a workshop in Abuja said although previous governments have tried without success to provide affordable houses to Nigerians through some mortgage financing programmes, a robust and holistic approach must be taken to reduce the deficit which according to him is over 17 million.
According to Ogar who was also the Action Congress of Nigeria, ACN Cross River State Chapter candidate for House of Representatives in 2011, there is an urgent need to review the existing land acquisition process especially in the area of cost and time involved in the processing of documents among other obvious official bottle necks.
Speaking further, Engr. Ogar who has so far handled high profile building projects across the country noted that there must also be a technical mindset renewal on the part of built-environment professionals especially the design team and building team to ensure steady progress in the provision of affordable houses to Nigerians.
“They need to embrace and nurture the neo-culture of building-technology-driven options with the technical character and courage to change by challenging the existing norm, less of conformity and more of change to focalize instead of dispersing resources with emphasis on R&D, establishment of shelter-innovation-parks to stimulate budding but fund-strapped building activists”, he said.
He explained that there is also the need to renew the end-user mindset which according to him could easily be achieved if governments will fund, build and use low cost shelter themselves so that the people can copy their example.
“To provide affordable houses to Nigerians, government should address critical essentials which are basic direly needed housing as against socially accepted standards. We must need to redefine standards and establish accurate clearly defined statistics of the housing situation in categories according to usage among others.
“Government should also establish a shelter task force or bureau answerable to the presidency which must be sensitive enough to be both organic and orgnised which should be drawn from the relevant Ministries, Departments and Agencies, MDAs.
“The effect of the spinoff from this on employment/unemployment and its sheer impacts in terms of trickle down employment generation ability is a huge plus in our other mammoth-sized challenge called unemployment.
“We must see the desired progression on the deconstruction of the housing deficit as workable inspite of the daunting realities on ground. We can slow down the growth, neutralize the growth and possibly keep a step or two ahead of the growth rate. This obviously is a herculean task and will take time and resolve, but then, a journey of a thousand miles starts with a single step forward”, he stated.
On the need for the composition of a task team, Engr. Ogar said it will create a compact and organic task team comprising of the built-environment personnel to act as a penetration unit to show practically and create an enabling housing environment with and for other stakeholders in recognition of the fact that the housing deficit is a steady growing mammoth and therefore an emergency situation.
According to him, the mission of the team will be but not limited to execute government components of the social housing intervention to the later, intervention to act as an exemplar to the collaborators or private housing concerns as well as to create a new building culture (techno-driven approaches) to drive down the cost and redeem the existing situations from the tyranny of the familiar building tradition.
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Hamma Ali Kumo Commiserates with APC National Secretary Over Mother’s Demise
The Deputy National Financial Secretary of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Hon. Hamma Ali Kumo, has extended his heartfelt condolences to the National Secretary of the party and his family following the passing of his beloved mother, describing the loss as deeply painful and a moment of great sorrow for both the family and the APC.
In a condolence message, Hon. Kumo said the death of a mother is one of life’s greatest tragedies, noting that while death is an inevitable part of human existence, the departure of a loving and caring mother leaves an irreplaceable void in the hearts of her children and loved ones.
He described the late matriarch as a virtuous woman whose life was marked by humility, compassion, sacrifice and unwavering devotion to her family and faith, adding that her moral values and guidance were instrumental in shaping the exemplary character and leadership qualities of the APC National Secretary.
According to him, the deceased lived a fulfilled life dedicated to nurturing her family, serving humanity and upholding the principles of righteousness, leaving behind a legacy that would continue to inspire future generations.
Hon. Kumo urged the National Secretary and the entire bereaved family to remain steadfast in their faith and find comfort in the knowledge that Allah gives life and takes it at His appointed time.
He prayed that Almighty Allah, in His infinite mercy, forgives all the shortcomings of the deceased, accepts her good deeds, grants her peace and comfort in the grave, expands and illuminates her resting place, and admits her into Al-Jannatul Firdaus.
The APC chieftain also prayed for Allah to grant the bereaved family the strength, patience and fortitude to bear the painful loss.
“On behalf of my family and supporters, I sincerely sympathise with our National Secretary and the entire bereaved family during this difficult period. May Almighty Allah (SWT) forgive our dear mother’s sins, shower His endless mercy upon her, grant her the highest place in Al-Jannatul Firdaus, and bless the family with Sabr Jameel to endure this painful loss. Ameen,” Hon. Kumo said.
News
DSS Moves Against Agbo, over Alleged impersonation as Benue PDP Guber candidate

The operatives of the Department of State Security Services, DSS has laid a manhunt on embattled former Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP in Benue State, over Alleged impersonation.
A highly placed Security source on Thursday, confirmed to our correspondent that the service is currently looking for Dr. Emmanuel Agbo for impersonating himself as the Governorship candidate of the People’s Democratic Party in Benue state.
The source said that Dr. Agbo, must be interrogated to enable the service have an idea were his candidature was decided as well as venue it took place.
He further added that from preliminary findings Agbo, is playing a role of a ” useful idiot ” been sponsored by political bigwigs in the state that must be unravel by the service.
He queried that all the primary election that took place across the 36 states of the Federation including the Federal Capital Territory was monitored by the DSS and reports were filed including that of Benue State which officially in the PDP, the former Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Michael Kaase Aondoakaa, SAN emerged.
Already, a political pressure group has petitioed, Dr. Emmanuel Agbo who they Alleged he is now parading a “fake” Certificate of Return as the party’s candidate is just an “impostor” who didn’t participate in the party’s primaries in May, 2026.
“The Certificate of Return which the disbanded Turaki-led Interim National Executive Council presented to Dr. Agbo yesterday is fake and will not be recognized by the Independent National Electoral Commission during the uploading of party candidates on their portal” the group noted.
The group however challenged Agbo to present evidence that he partook in the said primaries, and also make available proofs that representatives of the Independent National Electoral Commission, officials of the party from Abuja as well as representatives of Nigeria’s security agencies were present in his own selection process if there is any.
The group stated further that there are proofs that Dr. Emmanuel Agbo is being sponsored by some “disgruntled” elements to ruin the chances of the People’s Democratic Party in the forthcoming governorship election in Benue state.
The statement reads in parts:”Emmanuel Agbo has been warned to desist from this act of impersonation before it’s too late, and if he fails to stop this act, we shall drag him before a competent court to face criminal charges.
“That he is being sponsored to ruin the chances of the party is no longer a secret but, we will make sure that we stop him and his co-travellers who are hell bent on destroying the party”
News
EUYI Alleges Secret Recruitment, Job Racketeering in JAMB Ahead of Oloyede’s Exit
The Empowerment for Unemployed Youth Initiative (EUYI) has raised concerns over an alleged recruitment exercise conducted by the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB), claiming that more than 100 employment letters were issued in June 2026, barely six weeks before the expiration of the tenure of JAMB Registrar, Professor Ishaq Oloyede.
In a statement signed by its National Coordinator, Comrade Danesi Momoh Prince, and Secretary, Comrade Igwe Ude-Umanta, the group described the alleged recruitment exercise as secretive and called on relevant government agencies to investigate the matter.
According to EUYI, the recruitment process was allegedly carried out without public advertisement and may have violated established procedures governing employment into federal public institutions.
The organisation argued that the timing of the recruitment raises questions, particularly following President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s appointment of Professor Segun Aina as the incoming Registrar of JAMB, effective July 30, 2026.
“There is no apparent urgency that would justify a major recruitment exercise by an administration that has only a few weeks remaining in office,” the statement said.
EUYI further alleged that previous recruitment exercises conducted during Professor Oloyede’s tenure had attracted public controversy and scrutiny from the National Assembly, although the JAMB management had maintained that it obtained the necessary approvals from the Federal Character Commission (FCC).
The group contended that if the latest allegations are confirmed, the exercise could amount to violations of constitutional and statutory provisions governing public sector recruitment. It cited Section 14(3) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and relevant provisions of the Federal Character Commission Establishment Act, which emphasize equitable representation, transparency, and compliance with federal character principles in public service appointments.
The advocacy group also called on the Federal Character Commission to clarify whether it approved the alleged recruitment exercise and, if so, whether all legal requirements were met before employment letters were issued.
In addition, EUYI urged anti-corruption agencies, including the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), to investigate possible cases of nepotism, abuse of office, or other irregularities should evidence emerge to support such claims.
The organization stated that illegal recruitment practices and job racketeering have contributed significantly to the frustrations of millions of unemployed Nigerians, arguing that employment opportunities in public institutions should be transparent, merit-based, and accessible to all qualified citizens.
EUYI gave JAMB a three-day ultimatum to respond to the allegations and provide clarification regarding the reported recruitment exercise.
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