The Federal Ministry of Lands, Housing and Urban Development on Friday inaugurated a 12-member Ministerial Committee to develop a blueprint for affordable housing in Nigeria.

A statement signed by Mrs Eno Olotu on behalf of the ministry in Abuja, stated that the ministry was concerned about the wide gap in the affordability of houses in the country.

According to the statement, the Permanent Secretary of the ministry, Mr George Ossi said the delivery of adequate and affordable housing in Nigeria as enshrined in 1999 Constitution, was yet to be met.

Ossi said that a minimum of one million housing units per annum was still being expected, in order to reduce the deficit and avert a housing crisis by 2020.

He further said that currently, about 600,000 housing units were being developed annually through the public-private-partnership arrangement while 240,000 affordable housing were being developed by the Federal Housing Authority (FHA).

He said that FHA was developing the 240,000 low cost housing units under the prototype housing scheme as well as the development of new towns and cities in the states of the federation.

Ossi added that a strong housing and construction sector could help to generate social benefits to the citizens.

The statement quoted the Chairman of the Committee, and Director, Planning, Research and Statistics in the Ministry, Mr Aithelbert Muoka as saying that the committee would work assiduously to justify the confidence reposed in it.

The statement said the terms of reference of the committee included collection of relevant information on housing delivery in Nigeria and making recommendations on appropriate housing delivery methods and models.

``The committee will recommend measures and strategies towards adequate housing delivery, affordable housing, social housing, appropriate funding mechanism and measures to be undertaken towards achieving affordable housing delivery in Nigeria.

``It will determine the roles and responsibilities of all stakeholders in housing delivery in Nigeria and make any other recommendations as appropriate.

The committee has four weeks to conclude its assignment, the statement said. (NAN)

Photo shows: Housing Estate