Nigeria’s housing crisis continues to expose deep inequalities, with millions of citizens unable to afford decent homes while vast estates in major cities remain empty. Experts say housing should be at the heart of Nigeria’s development strategy, linking poverty reduction, job creation, and climate resilience.
Dr. Moses Ogunleye, former president of the Association of Town Planning Consultants of Nigeria, said housing goes beyond shelter it underpins health, education, and productivity. “There must be genuine commitment to implementing policies, laws, and programmes that ensure the provision of quality and affordable housing,” he said.
He noted that most Nigerians work in the informal sector and are excluded from the mortgage system. “Microfinance cannot easily support housing because it’s a long-term, capital-intensive investment,” he added, urging stronger housing cooperatives and adaptive urban planning.
Former Lagos NIESV chairman, Mr. Gbenga Ismail, argued that housing should be treated as infrastructure, not charity. “If every housing scheme integrates schools, clinics, jobs, and secure titles, then housing becomes a platform for health, education, and poverty reduction,” he said.
Ismail called for innovative financing including rent-to-own and cooperative models and climate-responsive designs. “We must build for our climate, not against it,” he stressed.
Dr. Muhammad Balogun, Group Managing Director of Global Property & Facilities International Ltd, urged an inclusive approach to urban renewal. “In-situ upgrading of informal settlements providing water, sanitation, roads, and secure tenure can transform slums into productive communities,” he said.
Balogun also called for housing designs that are affordable, sustainable, and flood-resilient. “Integrating housing into Nigeria’s sustainable development agenda requires transparency, collaboration, and strong governance,” he noted.
Experts agree that without a decisive shift toward inclusive, climate-smart housing, Nigeria’s growth will remain uneven and millions will continue to live without dignity in the shadows of empty estates.
