Rédaction Africa Links 24 with AZ Africa Links 24
Published on 2024-03-06 17:44:34
Real Estate in Burkina Faso: Pending the Restructuring of “Non-Lotted” Areas (Feature Article)
Ouagadougou, March 6, 2024 (Africa Links 24) – A parliamentary inquiry into real estate in Burkina Faso is on the horizon. Indeed, on Thursday, February 29, 2024, the deputies of the Transitional Legislative Assembly (ALT) adopted a resolution to create a parliamentary inquiry commission on the liabilities of real estate promotion.
For a period of two months, this parliamentary inquiry commission is expected to provide an overview of real estate promotion in our country, according to the ALT document.
This parliamentary commission is expected to identify and classify ongoing cases related to the implementation of the real estate promotion law, passed in June 2023.
Also, according to the ALT, “this commission will be responsible for estimating the taxes owed, proposing a plan to resolve past issues, and determining the responsibilities of various actors, including those of the State.”
The adoption of this resolution comes two years after the announcement by the Burkinabe government of a program to restructure informal settlements commonly referred to as “non-lotted” areas.
Indeed, in September 2021, the Ministry in charge of Urbanism and Habitat presented this program to journalists and civil society. It was announced that this project aimed to develop fourteen locations in the thirteen regional capitals of Burkina Faso and Pouytenga.
More than two years after the announcement of this ambitious program, the residents of non-lotted areas are still eagerly awaiting its implementation. Especially since it was suggested that this restructuring would improve their living conditions.
According to explanations, “the restructuring in question aims to develop, to create a pleasant living environment in areas that are already inhabited and difficult to access.”
In clear terms, the representative of the Ministry responsible for housing stated that within this project, “the areas in question will benefit from a level of development, including the construction of roads, the provision of electricity and clean water, the installation of equipment, and many other amenities, in order to guarantee decent living conditions for these populations.”
If this is the humanitarian goal of the program, why is there a delay in making it effective? One is tempted to wonder.
The mobilization of the necessary financial resources could explain the slowness in the implementation of the program to restructure non-lotted areas. In this regard, it was stated that a total of 882 billion 956 million 154 thousand 080 CFA francs should be raised.
To raise these funds, the Ministry, in addition to its contribution, requested the support of the private sector and Technical and Financial Partners (PTF).
Therefore, 60% is expected as a contribution from the private sector, PTF, and 40% should be borne by the State and residents, with 20% for each of the two parties.
In a context where the mobilization of resources is rightly focused on combating terrorism, it is understandable that the program is put on hold, but certainly not forgotten.
It is worth noting that with the announcement of the restructuring, some residents of non-lotted areas are worried and somewhat hesitant to improve their living conditions. For example, those who are skeptical avoid using permanent materials for construction, as they are unsure if their habitat is located within the footprint of a road.
If the announced parliamentary inquiry addresses this issue, it will reassure the millions of citizens targeted by the program to restructure non-lotted areas. It was announced at the time of its presentation that this restructuring operation is expected to affect a total of 4,380,800 residents over an area of 21,904 hectares. These figures are not negligible at all.
Burkina Faso Information Agency
Alban KINI ([email protected])
Read the original article(French) on Agence d’Information du Burkina
