The Abuja Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ACCI) and Shelter Aid Organisation will hold an investment expo in Abuja to promote local production of building materials, affordable housing and skilled workforce in the housing sector. Speaking on the planned expo, the Vice President in charge of commerce for ACCI, Dr Johnson Anene, said the expo would attract investors and stakeholders in the housing sector to address high cost of building, rent and dearth of skilled workers in the sector.

The expo is expected to feature investment summit, exhibition of housing and housing programmes, mining products, made in Nigeria products, building financing technologies, land matters, mortgages and investment opportunities.

“We want to use the platform to promote affordable housing by bringing the estate developers who have been tested to offer houses to off takers at cheaper rates. There are houses that are completed, but people are not occupying them so we want to use this forum to facilitate their occupation,” he said.

Dr.  Anene said many low income earners cannot afford houses because of high prices. He revealed that housing developers will be auctioning houses with different packages at a discount of 50 per cent. “We are introducing “Rent to Own” scheme whereby one will pay rent and liquidate the purchase price of the house,” he said. The Director-General of ACCI, Mrs. Tonia Shoyele, said the housing sector in Nigeria needed serious intervention of all stakeholders, including the organised private sector to enable Nigerians own homes.