The Management of Edo Development and Property Agency (EDPA) have said that Nigeria can sufficiently use local building materials to sustain affordable housing in the country.
This was disclosed recently by the Management of EDPA, led by the Managing Director, Mr John Zedomi, during the meeting with members of the Building Material Manufacturers, Traders, and Distributors at the ESIPO Office Benin City.
Mr. Zedomi said stakeholders in the building industry need to patronise locally manufactured components to sustain the productive capacity of the local manufacturers as well as the commitment to reduce the cost of housing units in Edo State.
The Managing Director said collaboration with the local Manufacturers, distributors and suppliers of local building materials would help to generate enough economic vivacity in the State.
He emphasised that there is a need to locally source standard materials for the building industry in Nigeria, particularly now that the Agency, primarily a Real Estate Developer, is about to commence Phase 2 of the Emotan Gardens in Benin City.
Mr. Zedomi stressed that the meeting was necessary to solicit the understanding and partnership of local content manufacturers towards the development of standard and affordable housing for subscribers.
Speaking briefly after the meeting, the Executive Director, Arc Bose Idegbesor, said the essence of the collaboration was to enable EDPA consistently develop affordable housing for the people, whose demand for housing she described as massive.
Arc. Idegbesor explained that there is a massive demand for housing in Edo State, hence the need for collaboration with building material manufacturers, distributors, and suppliers whose products are locally sourced. She, therefore, urged for greater synergy between the Local Manufacturers and Property Developers.
The Executive Director further said that when standard building materials are sourced locally, it will affect the overall cost of housing units; create significant economic turn over for stakeholders in the building industry.
“Building Materials such as tiles, plumbing materials, electrical fittings, Aluminium steel, Ironmongery and rods can be locally sourced in Edo State to help in the delivery of affordable housing. We have local manufacturers in the State who can conveniently supply these materials.
“We want to patronise them, including indigenous labour. We only need the Standard Organisation of Nigeria (SON) to continue to live up to their responsibilities by regularly monitoring their activities and produce,” Arc Idegbesor concluded.
Also speaking at the meeting, the President of Building Materials Distributors and Suppliers, Evang Paul Ubah appreciated the purpose for the collaboration and the desire by EDPA to patronise their locally manufactured goods and supplies.
He assured EDPA that the body will continue to keep to international standards so that their materials can be durable and earn the trust of builders and developers.
Evang Paul Ubah expressed gratitude to the MD of ESIPO, Mr Kelvin Uwaibi, for facilitating the meetings with Edo State Development and Property Agency.
