The Minister of Science and Technology, Dr. Ogbonnaya Onu, on Saturday said that the Federal Government is developing a draft action for the phasing out of mud houses across the country.

Speaking during his visit to the Nigerian Building and Road Research Institute (NBRRI) in Nnewi, Anambra State, Onu noted that the task would be made possible through research that would bring about cheap building materials that would enable Nigerians have affordable decent houses.

He maintained that it is the desire of the government to give Nigerians decent living conditions adding that is the reason why NBRRI is being charged to go into research that would be felt at the grassroots.

The Minister described the effort as, “A research that would enhance employment opportunities; decent houses and decent lives for Nigerians. The government of President Muhammadu Buhari is committed to making a positive difference in these areas”.

While noting that the phasing out of mud houses may not be achieved immediately, Onu described it as an ideal thing to do. He assured staffers of the Institute of the commitment of his ministry to boost their activities and welfare and tasked them to be committed in researches that would enhance the use of local materials.

“We can’t continue to import; because to do so is to export jobs, he noted.

Onu stressed that efforts were being made to revise school curricular in the country to encourage skills in constructions, saying that the trend whereby most construction works in the country were done by foreigners was unacceptable.

At the National Foundry Development and Training Centre, Ozubulu, Ekwusigo Local Government Area of the state, the minister regretted that foundry tools brought to the institute 18 years ago had not been put to use.

In his words: “This is not acceptable to this government. We must make use of this place under this administration.” He also assured that the erosion problems in Anambra State would be sorted, saying that was one of the reasons for trying to reinforce NBBRI.

•Photo shows Ogbonnaya Onu.

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