The Lagos State Government plans to build 187,000 housing units annually over the next five years to address the 2.5 million housing deficit, the Commissioner for Housing, Prince Gbolahan Lawal, has said.

Lawal, who stated this during a courtesy visit to the office of the Acting Deputy British High Commissioner to Nigeria, Mr. Ahmed Bashir, said policies that would quicken the process and make it successful were being put in place.

“Governor Akinwumi Ambode has formulated people-oriented policies that will ensure the supply of 187,000 housing units yearly to address the state’s 2.5 million housing deficit in the next five years,” he stated.

The commissioner said his ministry would model its affordable housing after the British social housing programme.

He said the state intended to explore the vertical style of building in order to make housing units available in the employment centres, especially for the lower and middle income earners.

“We also plan to address the dearth of skilled workers in the building industry such as masons, carpenters, steel fabricators, plumbers, electricians, painter, joiners, tillers and the likes through the Master Craftsman Project,” Lawal said.

According to him, the Master Craftsman Project of the ministry is to encourage the younger generation to embrace skills in construction as the older artisans were gradually ageing without younger people being trained to replace them.

Bashir said the United Kingdom also had passion for training and was ready to assist the ministry in providing same for craftsmen in the state.

He also called for more investment in housing for short stay in the state, especially for businessmen and tourists.

According to him, the Lagos State Government should make adequate provision for the people to come to Lagos and the country in general and stay briefly.

“This will guarantee their safety on their short stay in the country,” he said.