FG, Sinoma explore partnership opportunities, innovative technologies for affordable housing delivery

By Mashe Umaru Gwamna

The federal government and Sinoma New Materials Nigeria Company Limited is exploring partnership opportunities in innovative technologies towards increasing delivery of affordable housing in Nigeria.
This was contained in a statement signed and issued by the Director of Press and Public Relations, Badamasi Haiba.
The partnership focused on the promotion of innovation, sustainable construction, and local manufacturing of building materials.
This position was reiterated by the Minister of Housing and Urban Development, Arc. Ahmed Musa Dangiwa, during a meeting with Sinoma New Materials Nigeria Company Ltd in Abuja.
Sinoma New Materials Nigeria Company Ltd is the world largest manufacturer of building materials, specialising in eco- friendly, fire and water resistant building materials with termite protection.
Speaking during the engagement, Arc Dangiwa emphasised the priority of the Federal Government to ensure that low- and middle-income Nigerians can achieve home ownership within their working lifetime.
“ We want a situation where the average Nigerian worker can achieve home ownership with his salary within the period of his service. Also, we are particularly interested in innovation and technology that can make housing more affordable,” the Minister said.
He also noted that the conventional construction methods have proven inadequate in delivering houses at an affordability scale required by the target population, particularly workers in the middle cadre.
According to him, the government remains open to new construction technologies and building materials, stressing that such innovations must be properly demonstrated and proven to work effectively at a viable scale.
“We can only fully agree with you if you have demonstrated this somewhere and delivered it at scale. People must be able to see and touch what has been built and understand its durability over time,” he added.
The Minister also stressed the importance of construction speed in addressing Nigeria’s housing deficit. “If you are given land to deliver one hundred houses, how many days will it take you to complete them? These are important questions because speed in construction is critical in addressing the housing deficit in Nigeria” he stated.