The Minister of Federal Capital Territory, Senator Bala Mohammed, has blamed the housing and infrastructure deficits in the FCT on the influx of expatriates and people from other parts of the country.
Mohammed said the daily influx of people to the FCT has been affecting government's efforts to increase the housing stock and infrastructure development.
The minister, who was represented by the Director of Public Building in FCT, Eni Ugot, at the induction of new fellows of the Nigerian Institute of Building in Abuja on Friday night, noted that the attraction to Abuja had made the demand for housing, infrastructure and utilities to grow in geometric progression.
He said, "It is important to note that despite the effort of this administration to increase the housing stock and fast-track infrastructural development, Abuja still suffers both housing and infrastructure deficits.
"This is because the territory remains a major attraction to both Nigerians and expatriates. People living in various flashpoints of crisis in the country see the city as a safe haven. In the event of any major crises in their various towns of abode, people relocate to Abuja in droves. Consequently, the demand for housing, infrastructure and utilities is constantly growing at a geometric progression."
Mohammed however said the challenges confronting Abuja would not derail the administration's vision of making the FCT one of the top 20 capital cities in the world by the year 2020.
To achieve this dream, the minister sought partnership with the NIOB, stressing that Nigerian builders occupied a pride of place in the nation's drive towards infrastructure development.
During his speech, the President of NIoB, Mr. Chucks Omeife, charged the 10 newly inducted fellows to brace to the challenges of the time in the construction sector, stressing that being fellows put additional demands on them.
He said, "It is important to remind our newly elected fellows that this moment marks the beginning of excellent professional benchmark and highest ethics in action and display both in conduct and service delivery as a builder and in the built environment. Positive value addition and quality contribution to profession is an expectation that will not be compromised."
Omeife commended the Federal Government for reserving certain category of jobs for Nigerian professionals but decried the non-passage of the building code bill which has been in the cooler since 2006.
He said the passage of the bill into law would not only help to criminalise shady practices in the building construction sector, but also help to create stability.
