Nigeria's Vice President, Mohammed Namadi Sambo has directed that efforts aimed at preventing and relocating slums should accord strict compliance to the laws of the country through continuous engagement and dialogue.
Mohammed Namadi Sambo made this known on Monday October 21, 2013 at the National Housing and Slum Summit which held at the Transcorp Hilton Hotel, Abuja with the theme: "Developing a National Strategy for Mass Housing Delivery and Slum Upgrading" organised by the Federal Ministry of Lands, Housing and Urban Development.
The Vice President, who noted that issues regarding freedom of choice, respect for human rights, respect for human dignity and other forms of individual liberties are paramount in a democratic setting, stressed that people must not only recognise slums as shanties and filthy settlements, but also know that its peoples are inhabitants with emotional attachments to their dwelling spaces.
"Efforts aimed at relocating slum dwellers or providing alternative living spaces for them should be undertaken to provide them with better choices through continuous engagements and dialogue," the VP directed.
He charged stakeholders to partner with the Federal Government in its quest to provide affordable housing and reduce slum expansion in the country; saying in developing the proposed National Strategy for Mass Housing Delivery and Slum Upgrading, it is important to note that while mass housing provision and slum prevention are intertwined, the eradication of slums cannot be realised through the building of houses alone.
Sambo reiterated that the commitment of President Goodluck Jonathan to reducing the estimated 17 million housing deficit in the country has reassured hope in the effort to promote sustainable urbanisation and implement the universal principles for slum upgrading and prevention in accordance to sectoral policies and strategies.
He commended the Federal Ministry of Lands, Housing and Urban Development, including other development partners for supporting the Transformation Agenda, particularly regarding the provision of affordable housing for Nigerians.
In his remarks, the Supervising Minister for the Federal Ministry of Lands, Housing and Urban Development, Musa Sada said that the summit was convened to provide a platform for stakeholders to deliberate on the innovative and adaptable strategies for suitable housing delivery and slum upgrading in the country.
Goodwill messages were offered from the National Assembly, the United Nations and the private sector.
Source: Vice President allays strict human rights observance in slum relocation sites (http://fmi.gov.ng/latest/32039/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=vice-president-allays-strict-human-rights-observance-in-slum-relocation-sites)
Federal Ministry of Information (FMI) Nigeria