Real estate expert advocates improved access to land regulation

Managing Director, Leisure Court Estate Limited, Mr Segun Abolaji has called on the government to improve regulation on possession of lands in order to make affordable housing feasible.

Abolaji made this call on Thursday in Abuja during the Real Estate/Housing Reporter’s Workshop organised by Leisure Court Estate Limited.

The Theme of the Workshop was “Promoting Real Estate investment through Informed Media Alliance and Sustained Reporter’s Professionalism through Capacity Building“.

According to Abolaji the if Nigeria will to have affordable housing the first thing that government should do is to make land affordable by regulating the ownership of lands.

“There is no regulation for the real estate in Nigeria. Unlike in America, where possession of land is regulated.

“It is even difficult for real estate people to apply for land and get direct allocations than the politicians who are not pressed to sell the land because they do not need the money and resell at exorbitant prices to real estate practitioners.

“Another factor why affordable houses cannot be realistic is because the cost of cement and building materials. Only Gipson is sourced outside the country yet the cost of building materials are skyrocketing”, he said.

Speaking on Journalism Ethics, Rules and Conventions, Dr Maho Austin, said journalism has the key function of informing the public.

He said the ability to to adhere to the ethics of journalism that makes a true journalist, urging journalists to always observe the ABC of journalism which is Accuracy, Balance and Clarity.

He called on journalists to carry out their reportage with fairness and balance.

On his part, Dr Law Mefor, a Media Communication Consultant, speaking on Journalism and the Business Environment` said government should make policies that would discourage money laundering using empty houses.

He said business journalism was to make correct financial analysis and make it available to the public, adding that external and internal factors such as economic, political, social ,technological and legal environment affect business journalism.

Speaking on housing deficit he said government could strategically intervene to force down the prices of building materials.

He said that access to land should be promoted by the authorities, adding that governments should construct mass houses and guarantee mortgage loans for those that have regular income.

He called on reporters to interrogate governments policies, hold governments accountable and engage policy makers on mass housing