Abuja — The Federal Government yesterday took a bold step towards redressing the anormalies in the housing and property sector, by establishing three sub-committees on implementation of report of the Presidential Committee on Affordable Housing Scheme.

The committees, which were inaugurated yesterday in Abuja, by the Minister of State for Environment, Housing and Urban Development, Chief Chuka Odum, are Finance and Funding, Concession, Incentives, Insurance and Taxes, Committee on Legislation, National Housing and Urban Development Policies and Committee on Land Titling, Housing Infrastructure, Building Regulations, Materials and Skilled Labour.

The inauguration was sequel to receipt of report of the Presidential Committee on affordable Housing Delivery for Nigeria, by Minister of Environment, Housing and Urban Development, Tayo Alao, who said government is now determined more than ever before, to tackle the country's house ownership deficit now at about16million.

Alao said the report had identified nine key challenges militating against provision of affordable housing in the areas of affordability-gap in home ownership, dearth of long-term funds for mass housing delivery, insuficient capital by primary mortgage institutions, lack of adequate incentives, difficulties in land acquisition, ineadequate legal framework and housing infrastructure, as well as high cost of building materials.

She said President Umaru Musa Yar'Adua has approved the entire recommendations of the Presidential Committee, with the condition that all legal and constitutional issues contained in the report be forwarded to the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, for further action