High rise buildings key to providing social housing in a megacity

Constrained by its relative low landmass of 3,345 square metres, the Lagos State government has been facing a daunting task providing mass housing solutions to its over 18 million residents who are predominantly low and mid-income earners, as the state marches towards achieving a megacity status.

Evidently, the state has been plagued by a short supply of low-cost housing for its ever increasing population, while the high end of the market remains over-supplied with luxury apartments by private estate developers.

Hope of affordable low-cost housing by the growing middle class has continued to diminish as efforts by the state government seem to be greeted with challenges.

According to Tunde Gbadamosi, an estate developer, the need for the state government to commence social housing scheme, which will be structured vertically into high rise buildings to accommodate the mid- and low-income earners is long overdue. This would not only ensure a mixed society of both mid-income earners and the elite, but also lead to an upgrade of the city’s present status to a truly megacity.

“It would be enterprising for the state government to inculcate low- and mid-income earners in the metropolis into its agenda for the housing sector, even as the transformation to a megacity unfolds,” Ronald Ashkin, technical director, Real Estate Sector, Growth and Employment in States (GEMS), said in a telephone interview.

Gbadamosi said the middle class who would be the major beneficiaries of any mass housing schemes if implemented, are important to the economy of the state as they are the major drivers of most economies worldwide.

“Densely populated areas such as Ebute-Meta, Ikorodu, Ejigbo, Mushin are areas where such schemes are highly needed, as a result of the limited availability of land in those areas,” Gbadamosi added.

“A close look at those areas gives a clear picture of old and poorly erected structures, which have continuously led to frequent building collapse. The upgrade of such areas with modern high rise buildings would also give a befitting outlook to the city in general,” he noted.

By: ODINAKA MBONU