Housing FOR ALL, Land FOR Journalists; Ministerial Promise

The largest and commonest challenge in the Federal Capital City of Nigeria; Abuja is Accommodation. Many residents in the city either have to share with someone or come with some of the worst conditions while living in some very inadequate facility they hey have to call a home!

This unfortunately is not just peculiar to the FCT alone but extends to the entire Nation of Nigeria! This and some other concerns as regards Housing were the topical issues that characterized the latest People’s Forum, organized by the Nigerian Union of Journalists in Abuja.

The forum which saw in attendance, various journalists from various media outfits, had as its special guest, the Minister for Housing and Urban Development; Hon. Nduese Essien, who while tendering the Ministry’s scorecard over the last 12 months of the Ministry’s existence, said he wished he could build houses for Nigerians to live in. He affirmed that the in next administration starting from May 29th, this would be a priority.

Responding to enquiry as to land for Journalists the Minister also said that he had already been alerted to the issue and expressed worry that Journalists don’t have permanent ‘Jobs’ and are known to be highly mobile because they easily move from medium to medium and as such may not be easily held responsible for properties given to them. He however directed that the NUJ made arrangements to see how the issue can be trashed out with the NUJ standing surety for its members.

The forum is the fourth in its series and is organized by the Nigerian Union of Journalists as part of its commitment to Good governance and accountability.