The number of people living in slums worldwide is estimated to be more than a billion. Experts in urbanization fear that the ever-growing number of people living in slums in the world will soon become as populous as the number in the good environment in cities. Findings like these however do not show clearly the devastating effect which substantial living conditions have on the poor. The situation is more serious in developing countries where many people lack basic amenities, adequate housing and modern health care services.
It is an irony that while some of the richest nations want to build colonies on the Moon and explore Mars, growing numbers of the poor citizens in those countries cannot afford a decent place to live here on earth. It is foolhardy to apportion blame on the poor by alluding that they are responsible for their own conditions by showing no initiative, but factors involved in the housing crisis are beyond their control. The world’s population is increasing at an alarming rate, such that millions of houses are needed to keep pace with this development.
What sauce for the goose is sauce for the gander, therefore this is the right time for a wake-up call to leaders to provide social amenities in the rural areas just as they do in the urban areas. Rural dwellers are human beings and they should not be denied electricity and good water supply. Government should establish schools and colleges in all the nooks and crannies of the country.
People in the rural areas have no one to speak for them. I therefore call for the media to speak for them by drawing government attention to their plight. This further calls for understanding that until development is taken to the rural areas, rural-urban migration will continue to thrive.
The housing problem just like other problems facing the world requires urgent attention, and governments all over the world should declare a state of emergency on this basic necessity of life.
Aminat Adesope is our Staff writer.
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