Firm seeks FG’s support to deliver affordable housing to Nigerians

Folalumi Alaran in Abuja

As part of efforts aimed at delivering affordable houses to Nigerians, the managing director, Big homes, Topsy Essien has call for support from the federal government and reduce the housing deficit affecting the nation.

Essien while speaking over the weekend at the commissioning of Aurora’s Court by Big Homes in Abuja stated that the company has been delivering affordable houses for Nigerians but noted that they can do more if the government can support them.

He explained that considering the over 20 million housing deficit in Nigeria, Big Homes has delivered about seven estates in Abuja alone but will do more if government support them.

“We would have been a lot bigger than this if we had the backing of the government. But we’re just doing this, like I said, a small community coming together to get things done.

“We’re not really making a massive move, but we feel like this little move could be a lot more
if we had the support of the government. This is a capital
yes. See, private individuals and companies are faster. It’s not the big that succeeds the most, it’s
the fast. So you can have a big company sitting down, but a small company comes really fast
and disrupts the system.

Also, Essien advocated for a long term financial system that will ensure delivery of affordable housing system to Nigerians adding mortgage don’t just favor everyone hence some people cannot meet some of those standards.

“I’ve said this several times, it’s a very simple thing to do. First, we need long term strategies. Before I come into the cost, I want to start with whatever a house costs, be it two million, ten million, a hundred million, five hundred million, we should be able to have a financial system that gives us 20 to 30 years to pay for those kind of homes.”.

Meanwhile, he explained that commissioning of Aurora’s Court by Big Homes also aim at bringing partners of like-minds, people whom they have worked together for almost ten years.

“It’s a thing of pride that you look around and you see folks that you’ve been friends with, you’ve done business with, you started together, and both their business and yours are growing, so it’s like the community is growing together,
and so that’s basically what it is.

“With this kind of partnership and community, delivering projects, which is just a byproduct, would be endless. We just keep delivering projects and projects and projects because we have a community of
business people, partners, landowners, that are willing to come together to make things
happen.”. He added.