The executive director of Housing Development Advocacy Network (HDAN), Festus Adebayo, has sounded a sharp alarm, warning that increase in insecurity in several parts of Nigeria poses a serious threat to investment in its real estate sector.
According to him, the surge in kidnapping, banditry, and general lawlessness could severely undermine both housing development and investor confidence. emphasizing the fact that the deteriorating security situation is already prompting developers to withdraw from construction sites.
He argued that if the federal government fails to address these security woes swiftly, the real estate sector, presently a powerful engine of job creation and economic growth, may grind to a near halt.
Festus Adebayo stated, “We are of the view that with the perpetuation of the security challenges, the housing deficit of 22 million, may worsen as real estate investment may drop in some parts of the country”
In addition to security concerns, HDAN has previously attributed a decline in real estate development in the country over rising construction costs, driven by both violence and inflation of building materials. The net result, they argue, is a declining appetite for property investment, especially in areas where the risk of attack is high.
The group is calling for urgent, coordinated action, including stronger security deployment, but smarter policies, transparency, and accountability in housing delivery.
In their view, only a stable and secure environment will restore trust and encourage both developers and home seekers to remain active in the market. Without such interventions, the advocacy network fears the nation may see stalled projects, empty estates, and a worsening housing crisis, all because homes can not be built or occupied where people don’t feel safe.
