Following the criticism of high price of building materials, the Operators in building sector blamed the government for rising number of slum in the country due to the shortage of affordable houses for the less privileged.

From the news gathered, Toe Eniola, the Executive Secretary of the Association of Housing Corporation of Nigeria, said the people facing economic hardship are unable to  purchase a house due to in ability to afford rent and the shame of returning to village empty handed.

He said, “With the current economic reality, people are seeking alternative means of survival, and it is not out of context to see families opting for slums as alternative housing if they could not afford soaring rents any longer.

“Those who could no longer cope may opt to go back to the village, while those who could not face the shame of returning to the village without anything tangible to show may have to resort to slum settlement. Is it normal? No, because everyone as a citizen deserves habitable housing, and in the absence of any that is affordable, the poor need to breathe and have no choice but to settle in slums.”

Also, Femi Oyedele the Managing Director of Fame at Oyster & Co. Nigeria, said due to a lack of enough housing options people are forced to reside in slums.

He noted, “The predicament of those moving to slums is not a consequence of their actions but rather a compelled search for a suitable place to dwell. If their current living conditions fall below standards and are unsuitable for human habitation, it is the responsibility of the government.

“People do not voluntarily choose to reside in slums as an alternative to adequate housing, rather, they are compelled by circumstances beyond their control. When we designate a product as a fundamental necessity, it implies that individuals cannot function without it. A home is essential for providing shelter and rest.

“If the government fails to fulfill its responsibility of ensuring decent housing for its citizens, individuals may find themselves forced to reside in substandard conditions, including sleeping in gutters. It is not the shame of the people but the shame of the government that people cannot afford decent accommodation befitting human beings.”

Also speaking, Olorunyomi Alatise, an estate surveyor noted that slums were not an alternative means to housing in the long run.