By Ismaila Jimoh, Abuja
Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Barr. Nyesom Wike has made it known that it is very difficult for government to decide for landlords on amount to be charge as rent.
Wike stated this on Saturday during his visit to Zeberced Quarry in Kubwa in Bwari Area Council of the nation’s capital.
He also said that based on what he saw at the aforementioned quarry, the cost of construction in the FCT ought not to be expensive.
According to him: “I have not been here before, but I have taken the opportunity to look at the environment and see what they are doing. That shows that, ordinarily, the cost of construction ought not to be very expensive, particularly in the FCT.”
“Apart from equipment that are being imported, that are used for this quarry, the raw material is available here, and I wonder why contractors should be talking about cost of aggregate as if these (materials) are imported. These are not imported; they are made here”, he argued.
The Minister, while expressing reservations on environmental impact of siting the “biggest quarry in West Africa”, however allayed fears of residents: “My only problem is the environmental impact assessments, which he said there are up-to standards, there no problems.
“So I really want to encourage the company. It’s really amazing that we have this type of manufacturing going on here.
Look at what he said, that they have over 800 persons who are working directly. I will not lie to you, I am really encouraged by what am seeing here. I think it’s mind boggling am very very impressed”, he stated.
On the issue of high cost of rent in Abuja, the Minister stated that costs of everything, including rent, was high, so singling out rent for possible legislation to put a ceiling on the high costs of rent would be counter-productive as it would discourage investors.
He added that costs of rent and other things in the country were determined by market forces.
“As regards the cost of rent, it is the market forces…you are aware that everything has actually increased because of costs….the man who built the houses didn’t build that he will not make profit at the end of the day. I don’t agree with people always complaining about rent increase, there are increases in everything today, so rent should not be singled out,” Wike emphasized.
“You want us to make a law and say that a two-bed room flat should not be more than ₦50,000 or ₦100,000, for example. I don’t think you are encouraging investors. That’s not our major problem now”, he added.
