As the World celebrated this year's edition of World Habitat Day yesterday, the Federal Government through its ministry of Environment, Housing and Urban Development, blamed the prevailing urban crisis occasioned by housing shortage, proliferation of slum and rising urban deficit, on the national development progammes which have over the years paid greater premium on economic lines without course to issues of physical development.
Minister of State for Environment, Housing and Urban Development, Dr. Chuka Odom, at a ministerial press briefing to commemorate the day, noted that this year's theme "Harmonious Cities," is pertinent and draws attention to different problems of rapid urbanisation, especially its widespread impacts on the total environment; unequal access to urban opportunities, insecurity occasioned by environmental disasters, perplexities that attend rights to urban land and housing, as well as crime and violence in cities.
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