Weak banks, poor land titling and grabby relatives all play a role
Half-made buildings are everywhere in African cities. In Abuja, Nigeria’s capital, the government last year said it would take over 600 of them because they had been unfinished for so long. Dakar’s skeletal structures illustrate many of the reasons why unfinished buildings are so common—and the costs of this problem.
For Senegalese hoping to build their own homes, mortgages are rare. In all they cover only about 20% of the need. Across many African countries even the cheapest newly built house is unaffordable for most people. Instead, people break ground knowing they do not yet have the funds to finish. When they earn a little more money they add more bricks.
Pouring concrete makes sense for other reasons, too. When you start building the neighbourhood respects you, says Cheikh Abdoul Faty, who has been trying to finish the second floor of his home in Dakar for a decade. “If you have millions in the bank, people do not see it,” points out Mamadou Diagne, a consultant. If you just start building they “appreciate you more”. Relatives are also more likely to pitch in to help you finish, once construction has started.
Ireland Latest News, Ireland Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Why travel bans are usually the wrong way to curb OmicronBritain and America have displayed admirable common sense of late. Both countries removed travel restrictions on southern African countries once it was clear that the variant was circulating at home
Read more »
Met Office shares why New Year's Eve will be hottest on record with 16C expectedThe UK is enjoying unseasonably warm weather this week which is set to continue into the weekend, with the Met Office expecting the record temperature for New Year's Eve to be broken
Read more »
EDEN CONFIDENTIAL: Why marriage is a taxing issue for Ricky GervaisRICHARD EDEN: Financial matters are rather pressing for Gervais, who lives in an £11 million North London mansion with Fallon and has an estimated fortune of more than £100 million.
Read more »
EDEN CONFIDENTIAL: Why marriage is a taxing issue for Ricky GervaisRICHARD EDEN: Financial matters are rather pressing for Gervais, who lives in an £11 million North London mansion with Fallon and has an estimated fortune of more than £100 million.
Read more »
Queen's Guard knocks over child while on patrol - here's why they don't stop | ITV NewsSocial media users have branded one of the Queen's Guards 'out of order' after a video went viral of a child being knocked over during a patrol
Read more »