Professionals Urge Government to Put Housing Experts at Centre of Sector Reforms

Built-environment professionals have called on the government to give qualified estate surveyors, valuers and other housing experts greater responsibility in managing Nigeria’s housing sector.

An Abuja-based estate surveyor and valuer, Diran Adetunji, said the persistent challenges affecting housing delivery were partly the result of inadequate professional input and poor long-term planning.

Adetunji argued that many officials appointed to manage housing-related institutions lacked the specialised knowledge required to understand the sector’s complex problems and develop practical solutions.

According to him, Nigeria has repeatedly failed to properly assess population growth, urban migration and the volume of housing required by low- and middle-income households.

The absence of reliable projections, he said, has prevented the country from establishing effective short-, medium- and long-term housing plans.

Adetunji cited Abuja as an example, noting that planning for the Federal Capital Territory did not adequately anticipate the rapid influx of people that followed the relocation of Nigeria’s administrative headquarters.

The resulting pressure on available land, housing and infrastructure has contributed to rising property costs, informal development and increased competition for limited buildable plots.

He maintained that estate surveyors and valuers possess the technical knowledge needed to assess housing demand, evaluate land resources and support the development of realistic policies.

The expert called for a proper diagnosis of Nigeria’s housing challenges before new programmes are introduced. He also advocated a review of the country’s land and housing policies to make access to suitable accommodation more consistent and sustainable.

Among the major obstacles identified were difficulties in obtaining secure property titles, inadequate infrastructure and limited access to affordable housing finance.

Poor roads, electricity, water, drainage and other essential services can make otherwise available land unsuitable or too expensive for residential development.

Adetunji said strengthening property-title documentation would help improve confidence in the housing market and make it easier for homeowners and developers to access finance.

He also highlighted the importance of an effective mortgage system in expanding homeownership, particularly for households that cannot afford to purchase properties through outright payment.

The establishment of the Nigeria Mortgage Refinance Company was described as an important intervention capable of improving the availability of long-term mortgage funding.

However, sustainable progress would require more than the creation of institutions. Housing agencies must be professionally managed, guided by reliable data and held accountable for measurable results.

Greater involvement of estate surveyors, town planners, architects, engineers, builders, mortgage specialists and other qualified professionals could strengthen coordination across the housing value chain.

A professionally led approach could also help government develop housing programmes that reflect household incomes, population trends, infrastructure capacity and the actual needs of different communities.

Stakeholders maintain that Nigeria can make greater progress in reducing its housing shortage by replacing fragmented interventions with coordinated planning, secure land administration, accessible finance and competent sector leadership.