By SUMAYYAH ADEFAKA
The Minister of Works and Housing, Mr Babatunde Fashola (SAN), on Friday, expressed optimism on the implementation of monthly rent payment in Nigeria.
Fashola expressed this hope at a public lecture organised by the Yoruba Tennis Club in Lagos, themed, “What Can the President Do for Me?”.
The minister, who noted that Nigeria’s President was not an all-powerful, said that everybody has a duty to ensure a better life.
He expressed concern about the plight of ordinary Nigerians in terms of rent payment, adding that no government has 100 percent ownership of houses.
The Minister of Housing called on landlords to reduce house rent. According to him, tenants go through much trauma and inconvenience when property owners demand about three years’ rent at once.
“Is it possible that something can move us to lower that (the rent) – just to lower it a little to six months or three months, and maybe, one day, we will collect rent monthly and even in arrears?
“It happens in other places. Those places where we love, those places where we want to be like.
“I am sure that it will happen in my life because it is the major reason for so many inconveniences.
“The point to me is that in a society where we are asking people, who receive their incomes at the end of the month in arrears, to bring three years’ rent in advance, there is an issue,” Fashola said.
He said that property, where much rent was being demanded, were large, if not totally, privately-owned.
“The Federal Government cannot legislate on rent.
“It is a state matter, and this state has a very proud history, in military and civilian times, of rent control, and there is still a lot that can be done.”
According to him, there is a lot that can be done in terms of mortgages to bridge the housing deficit.
He urged Lagos State to play a role in Federal Mortgage Bank to support the people.
“There is a lot to expect from the president but there is perhaps much more to ask from state and the local governments,” Fashola said.
On 2023, the minister urged the citizens to ask all aspiring leaders how they would make life better for the masses.
