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Operators Associate Rising Slums with Shortage of Affordable Housing

Stakeholders in the built environment attribute the surge in slum settlements across the country to the scarcity of affordable housing options for the underprivileged.
 
In an exclusive interview with The PUNCH, Toe Eniola, the Executive Secretary of the Association of Housing Corporation of Nigeria, pointed out that families grappling with financial difficulties are compelled to seek refuge in slums due to exorbitant rents or the embarrassment of returning empty-handed to their villages.
 
Eniola stated, "Given the prevailing economic challenges, people are exploring alternative means of sustenance. It's not uncommon to witness families turning to slums for shelter when they can no longer afford skyrocketing rents."
 
 
"Those unable to endure such circumstances may choose to retreat to rural areas, while others, unwilling to face the stigma associated with returning home empty-handed, reluctantly settle in slums. Is this acceptable? No. Every citizen deserves decent housing, yet in the absence of affordable options, the impoverished are left with no choice but to inhabit slums."
Similarly, Femi Oyedele, Managing Director of Fame at Oyster & Co. Nigeria, emphasized that the absence of adequate housing forces people into slum living.
 
He emphasized, "The plight of those migrating to slums is not a result of their choices but rather a desperate quest for suitable accommodation. If their current living conditions fail to meet basic standards, it's the government's duty to intervene."
Slums
 
"People don't willingly opt for slum living as an alternative to adequate housing; rather, circumstances beyond their control drive them to it. When a home is deemed a fundamental necessity, it implies that individuals cannot thrive without it. If the government neglects its obligation to provide decent housing, individuals may find themselves compelled to endure substandard conditions, including sleeping in gutters. It's not the people's shame but the government's failure to ensure affordable accommodation befitting human dignity."
 
Addressing the health implications, estate surveyor Olorunyomi Alatise emphasized that slums are not a sustainable housing solution.
 
He remarked, "While slums may temporarily shelter the impoverished when affordable alternatives are scarce, residing in such areas poses significant health and safety risks. Slums typically lack proper infrastructure, including clean water and sanitation facilities, and may be located in hazardous environments."
 
"Moreover, they often experience high levels of crime and violence, with residents facing limited opportunities for employment and advancement. While some individuals may turn to slums out of necessity, they are far from being a viable long-term housing solution."
 
Source: PunchNG

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