The Family Homes Funds Limited (FHFL) has identified the absence of reliable housing data as one of the biggest obstacles to effective housing planning, policymaking, and regulation in Nigeria. The organisation said accurate and up-to-date data is essential for addressing the country’s housing deficit and guiding sustainable urban development.
Speaking at the Stakeholders’ Validation Workshop on the National Housing Data Programme in Abuja, FHFL Executive Director of Operations, Dr. Emeka Inegbu, described data as the foundation of successful housing development. He noted that governments and investors cannot make informed decisions without credible information on housing demand, supply, demographics, land availability, and infrastructure.
According to Inegbu, the lack of reliable housing data has continued to hamper policy formulation, investment planning, and regulatory oversight within Nigeria’s housing sector. He explained that countries with well-developed housing information systems are better positioned to attract investment, improve housing finance, and implement effective housing programmes.
He called for stronger collaboration among government agencies, financial institutions, developers, professional bodies, and research organisations to establish an integrated national housing database. Such a system, he said, would support evidence-based policymaking, improve market transparency, strengthen mortgage financing, and enhance confidence among local and international investors.
FHFL also stressed that credible housing data would improve urban planning, infrastructure development, land administration, and affordable housing delivery by enabling policymakers to accurately assess housing needs and allocate resources more effectively. The organisation maintained that digital data systems would also reduce inefficiencies and improve coordination across the housing value chain.
Industry stakeholders agreed that developing a comprehensive national housing data framework is essential for reducing Nigeria’s housing deficit, attracting investment, and creating a more transparent and efficient real estate market capable of supporting long-term economic growth.
