The Nigerian Institution of Building (NIOB) has warned that quacks pose a serious threat to building safety in Nigeria.

The NIOB President, Mr Daniel Kolade, spoke on Saturday at the closing ceremony of the institution’s 56th annual conference in Abuja.

The conference focused on “Repositioning the Building Profession, Advocacy and Policy Influence in Housing Delivery for a Sustainable Built Environment.”

NIOB Calls for Action Against Quacks

Kolade said the conference gave builders from across Nigeria a chance to discuss key challenges in the building sector.

He said the discussions also examined ways to improve housing delivery through better policies and stronger professional practice.

According to Kolade, government, professionals and the public must work together to tackle quackery in the construction industry.

He called on the Federal Government to give full legal backing to the National Building Code.

Some states have already adopted the code. However, Kolade said stronger federal action remains necessary.

He said better enforcement would help improve compliance with building standards and reduce the risk of building collapse.

NIOB Wants Prevention of Building Collapse

Kolade also raised concerns about the repeated cases of building collapse across Nigeria.

He questioned whether government action after a building collapse has stopped the problem from happening again.

The NIOB president said authorities should focus more on preventing building failures.

He also called for stricter enforcement of approved construction standards.

Building collapse remains a major concern for Nigeria’s housing sector. Such incidents can lead to deaths, property losses and higher costs for affected families and investors.

Public Urged to Hire Qualified Professionals

Kolade urged professionals in the built environment to perform their duties with care.

He also warned Nigerians against giving professional construction work to unqualified people.

He described a quack as a person who claims to handle almost every part of a building project without the required training or certification.

Such work may include preparing building designs, construction and maintenance.

Kolade advised property owners to check the qualifications of people they hire for building projects.

He said Nigerians should not sacrifice safety in an attempt to reduce construction costs.

The NIOB president encouraged property owners to engage qualified builders, architects, engineers and other relevant professionals.

Professional Standards Key to Safer Housing

Kolade said professional involvement at every stage of construction can help reduce construction risks.

Qualified professionals can help identify poor workmanship, design problems and failures to meet building regulations.

This issue is important as Nigeria works to increase housing supply.

The country needs more homes, but new housing must also meet safety and quality standards.

Poor construction practices can increase risks for homeowners, tenants, developers and investors.

NIOB Supports Renewed Hope Housing

Kolade said the NIOB remains ready to support the Federal Government’s Renewed Hope Initiative.

He specifically mentioned the Renewed Hope Housing projects across the country.

However, he called for policies that would increase the role of qualified professionals in government housing programmes.

He said professional input would help ensure that housing projects meet required standards.

Kolade also welcomed the position presented by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Sen. George Akume.

Akume chaired the opening ceremony of the NIOB conference.

Kolade said the NIOB would continue to work with the government and other stakeholders to improve the building industry.

He also said the institution would support efforts to promote sustainable housing delivery.

NIOB Says Quacks Have No Hiding Place

Kolade said the NIOB would intensify efforts to identify unqualified practitioners in the industry.

He urged professionals to challenge practices that put building safety at risk.

“My message for them is that they should just know that their time is over. There is no more hiding place for those quacks within the industry,” he said.

The statement reflects the institution’s growing focus on professional standards and accountability within the building sector.

Jos North Chairman Calls for Compliance

Also speaking at the event, the Chairman of Jos North Local Government, Plateau, Mr John Christopher, called for strict compliance with approved building standards.

Christopher said quality housing remains important to human life.

He urged young professionals to embrace new ideas while keeping safety and quality at the centre of their work.

He also called for stronger compliance with approved building designs and specifications.

According to him, the rising cases of building collapse make such action necessary.

Christopher further urged the Federal Government to give greater attention to housing development and affordable shelter.

Housing remains one of the basic needs of Nigerians.

The NIOB’s warning highlights a major challenge for Nigeria’s housing and construction sectors. Increasing the supply of homes must go hand in hand with strong regulation and professional practice.

Better enforcement of building standards can help protect lives, property and investment while supporting safer housing delivery across the country.

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The Federal Government has warned that poor workmanship, substandard building materials and the activities of unqualified practitioners could undermine efforts to expand access to safe and affordable housing across Nigeria.

Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Senator George Akume, gave the warning in Abuja while chairing the 56th Annual Conference of the Nigerian Institute of Building (NIOB), themed “Repositioning the Building Profession, Advocacy and Policy Influence in Housing Delivery for a Sustainable Built Environment.”

Akume said Nigeria’s housing challenge required more than increasing the number of buildings constructed. He stressed that housing delivery must also focus on safety, affordability, durability and compliance with professional standards.

According to him, housing has implications beyond physical structures, as it affects household security, dignity, family stability, quality of life and the ability of Nigerians to build wealth.

The SGF identified several factors contributing to building failures in the country, including non-compliance with approved specifications, inadequate quality control, improper construction techniques, foundation problems and weak supervision on building sites.

He also warned certified builders against allowing their professional names or seals to be attached to projects they had not supervised. Such practices, he said, could weaken professional accountability and expose occupants to serious risks.

Akume called for greater public education on the consequences of poor construction, noting that defective buildings can result in substantial financial losses as well as loss of lives.

The government official also pointed to affordability as a major barrier to home ownership. Rising construction costs, he said, have made decent housing increasingly difficult for many Nigerian households to afford.

To address the cost challenge, Akume said the Federal Government was supporting the production of building materials across Nigeria’s six geopolitical zones. The initiative is aimed at increasing domestic production and helping to reduce construction costs.

He urged building professionals to contribute their technical knowledge, research capacity and industry networks to government housing policies and programmes from the design and planning stages through implementation.

Akume also encouraged professionals to work through consortia, introduce auditable quality-management systems, improve the training and certification of artisans, and deepen collaboration with government and reputable private developers.

Representing the Minister of Housing and Urban Development, Muttaqha Darma, the Director of Public Buildings, Musa Abdullahi, said recurring building collapses remained a serious concern for the construction industry.

Darma stressed the responsibility of builders in ensuring that construction activities comply with established engineering standards. He highlighted quality control, proper testing of materials and effective site supervision as important safeguards against construction failures.

He urged participants at the conference to develop practical recommendations capable of improving housing delivery and addressing persistent weaknesses within the sector.

Earlier, NIOB President Daniel Kolade said the institute was using advocacy and policy engagement to strengthen the building profession, improve construction standards and increase public awareness of the importance of hiring qualified professionals.

Kolade also identified quackery as a major challenge in the construction sector and advised Nigerians to engage properly qualified professionals when undertaking building projects.

The concerns raised at the conference come as Nigeria continues to grapple with the twin challenges of housing affordability and construction quality. For the housing sector, improving access to homes will therefore depend not only on increasing supply but also on stronger professional oversight, better materials, effective regulation and construction practices that protect the long-term value and safety of buildings.

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The Federal Government has approved the direct purchase of 600 four-bedroom terrace duplexes in Life Camp, Abuja, for personnel of the Nigerian Armed Forces.

The approval was granted by the Federal Executive Council (FEC) as part of the government’s efforts to improve the welfare and living conditions of military personnel.

The houses are located at Bristol City Development, Life Camp, and will be allocated to members of the Armed Forces under the Federal Government’s ongoing military housing intervention.

Minister of Housing and Urban Development, Muttaqha Rabe Darma, said the approval followed a memorandum presented by his ministry to the Federal Executive Council.

He described housing as an important component of the welfare package for military personnel, particularly given the demands placed on members of the Armed Forces.

According to the minister, the latest approval is part of President Bola Tinubu’s broader commitment to improving the welfare and living conditions of servicemen and women.

The 600 units approved in Life Camp are not an isolated intervention.

Darma said the Federal Government had previously secured approval for 1,556 housing units in Deidei, Abuja, for Armed Forces personnel.

With the latest 600 units, the number of units approved under the military housing intervention has risen to 2,156.

The government is targeting a much larger programme of 10,000 housing units for personnel of the Armed Forces.

The Federal Government’s decision reflects the growing recognition that accommodation is an important component of personnel welfare.

For military personnel, access to suitable accommodation can reduce the financial pressure associated with housing costs while improving living conditions for service members and their families.

The government has increasingly linked improved housing with broader efforts to strengthen welfare and conditions of service within the Armed Forces.

The Life Camp development also adds another substantial residential project to Abuja’s housing market.

The capital continues to experience strong demand for housing, while rising land, construction and rental costs have made decent accommodation increasingly expensive.

The addition of 600 four-bedroom homes therefore contributes to the city’s residential stock, although the units are specifically intended for military personnel rather than the general housing market.

The latest approval increases the number of housing units planned for military personnel, but approval is only the first stage.

The effectiveness of the programme will ultimately depend on how quickly the units are delivered, the quality of construction and how transparently they are allocated to eligible personnel.

The government will also need to demonstrate that the larger 10,000-unit target can move from approved projects to completed homes.

This is particularly important given the history of delays associated with some public housing projects.

With the 600 Life Camp units and the previously approved 1,556-unit Deidei project, the Federal Government now has 2,156 military housing units approved under the current intervention.

The government says the wider objective is to expand decent accommodation for members of the Armed Forces while strengthening their overall welfare.

For Nigeria’s housing sector, the programme also demonstrates how public-sector demand can be used to support large-scale residential development.

The bigger test, however, will be whether the government can sustain the pace of delivery and eventually achieve its 10,000-unit target.

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The Federal Government has commenced construction of 250 housing units for federal civil servants in Dukpa, Gwagwalada, Abuja, as part of efforts to expand access to affordable accommodation for government workers.

The foundation for the estate was laid on August 19, 2026, by the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Didi Esther Walson-Jack.

The project is being implemented through a partnership between the Federal Ministry of Housing and Urban Development and the Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation.

Estate to Include Two- and Three-Bedroom Homes

The planned estate will comprise 250 two- and three-bedroom bungalows.

Housing Minister Muttaqha Rabe Darma said the project is intended to provide affordable accommodation for civil servants while recognising their contribution to national development.

The project forms part of wider federal efforts to increase housing supply and improve access to decent accommodation for workers.

Housing Programme Reaches 600 Units for Civil Servants

The new estate will complement 350 housing units already provided under the Federal Integrated Staff Housing Programme.

With the addition of the 250 Gwagwalada units, the number of homes provided to federal civil servants under the initiatives will rise to 600 units.

The development comes as the Federal Government continues to expand its broader housing programme across the country.

The Housing Ministry has previously outlined plans for Renewed Hope Estates consisting of 250 units in selected states, alongside larger Renewed Hope Cities in major urban centres.

Head of Service Calls for Transparency

Walson-Jack called on state governors to consider replicating the housing initiative across the country.

She also stressed the importance of quality construction, affordability, transparency, accessibility and timely completion in housing projects.

Those factors will be particularly important as the government attempts to move beyond housing announcements and deliver completed homes to beneficiaries.

Government Lines Up More Housing Projects

Darma disclosed that the Housing Ministry has several projects scheduled for delivery between August and December across Lagos, Abuja and other locations.

He said the planned projects form part of the government’s effort to shift from policy announcements towards completed housing developments that can improve living conditions.

The minister also directed contractors, consultants and other stakeholders involved in the Gwagwalada project to maintain high construction standards and ensure the buildings can withstand long-term use.

Gwagwalada’s Housing Development Comes With Land Issues

The project is being developed in Dukpa, an area that has previously been involved in federal land and housing initiatives.

The Federal Government had allocated residential and service plots in the area under the Dukpa Site and Services Scheme in 1992.

Those allocations were subsequently revoked after the land was required for the National Housing Programme, with the government citing overriding public purpose.

The ministry has announced a verification exercise for affected allottees ahead of possible relocation to another site within Gwagwalada. The exercise is scheduled to begin on September 7, 2026.

The Bigger Question Is Affordability

The construction of another 250 housing units is positive for Abuja’s housing supply, but the bigger issue is whether the homes will be affordable to the civil servants they are intended to serve.

Housing affordability remains a major challenge for Nigerian workers as rents, land prices and construction costs continue to rise.

A housing programme for civil servants therefore needs to consider not only the cost of constructing the units but also the financing structure, eligibility requirements, payment terms and eventual cost to beneficiaries.

If workers cannot realistically afford the completed homes, increasing the number of units will have limited impact on the affordability problem.

Quality and Delivery Will Matter

The government has also placed emphasis on timely completion and construction quality.

That is important given previous concerns around delays in federal housing projects.

In Katsina, for example, a recent physical inspection by the Housing Minister found that only about 130 of 250 units described in briefing documents as completed were actually ready, highlighting the importance of independent verification and project monitoring.

For the Gwagwalada project, successful delivery will therefore depend not simply on breaking ground, but on completing the homes to the required standard and making them accessible to eligible civil servants.

The 250-unit estate represents another addition to Abuja’s housing stock. Its real impact, however, will ultimately be measured by how many workers can afford to own or occupy the homes and how quickly they are delivered.

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The Nigerian Institute of Building (NIOB) has urged construction professionals to take a more active role in shaping government policies on housing and building development.

The institute said stronger professional input could help Nigeria address its housing challenges while improving building quality and safety. It also called for closer cooperation between government and professionals across the built environment.

The NIOB President, Abimbola Daniel Kolade, made the call ahead of the institute’s 56th Builders’ Conference and Annual General Meeting in Abuja.

NIOB seeks stronger housing policies

Kolade said builders and other professionals should contribute more to national discussions on housing delivery. He identified affordable housing, building quality and the enforcement of construction standards as key areas requiring greater attention.

He also called for policies that support sustainable infrastructure and better training and certification for construction workers.

According to the NIOB president, government agencies, professionals, private companies and other stakeholders need to work together to improve housing delivery.

The institute said stronger collaboration could help address some of the problems affecting construction and housing development across the country.

Building standards remain a priority

Building regulation remains an important part of housing delivery because construction standards affect the safety, durability and quality of homes and other structures.

The NIOB’s position also places professional training and certification at the centre of efforts to improve construction standards. Better skills among workers can support improved building practices and help professionals meet required standards.

The institute said policy decisions should therefore reflect the practical experience of professionals who work directly within the construction sector.

Conference to examine industry challenges

The 3rd Vice President of NIOB and Chairman of its Marketing and Corporate Affairs Committee, Dr Adeshina Aladeloba, said preparations for the institute’s conference had been completed.

He said the Abuja event would bring together builders, policymakers, government officials, corporate organisations and other industry stakeholders.

The participants are expected to examine challenges affecting the construction industry and discuss possible solutions.

The conference will also provide an opportunity for professionals to engage with policymakers and other stakeholders on issues affecting housing and construction.

Built environment professionals urged to collaborate

NIOB National Publicity Secretary, Usenobong Emmanuel Atangaedi, said progress in the built environment would require cooperation among different professional groups.

He identified architects, engineers, quantity surveyors, estate surveyors and valuers, and town planners as part of the wider group that must contribute to solving industry challenges.

The call reflects the interconnected nature of housing development. A housing project depends not only on builders but also on planning, design, valuation, infrastructure, financing and effective regulation.

Implications for housing development

The institute’s position comes at a time when housing affordability and construction quality remain important issues for Nigeria’s built environment.

Housing policy affects how homes are planned, financed and delivered. Building standards also influence construction costs, project timelines and the long-term performance of buildings.

Greater professional participation in policymaking could help bridge the gap between government policy and conditions on construction sites. It could also support better coordination between public agencies, developers and professionals.

The NIOB’s call for stronger standards, improved training and wider professional participation therefore extends beyond the construction industry. It touches on the quality, safety and affordability of housing and the broader development of Nigeria’s urban areas.

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Professor of Applied Valuation at the Federal University Oye Ekiti (FUOYE), Professor Isaac Olatunji, has called for a radical transformation of Nigeria’s housing delivery system through data-driven housing choices and long-term tenancy arrangements.

Olatunji made the call while delivering the 24th inaugural lecture of the university titled “Housing Care and Support for Nigerians: Exploring the Optimality Dimension to a Critical Real Estate Decision” at the Victor Ndoma-Egba Auditorium.

The professor argued that housing delivery in Nigeria must move beyond simply providing shelter to adopting scientifically guided systems capable of improving citizens’ well-being and economic stability.

He introduced what he described as the “OPTi Revolution,” a housing decision-support framework built around the Optimality Index (OPTi), which he compared to the globally recognised Moody’s rating system.

According to him, the system uses mathematical analysis to balance income, transport costs, commuting distance, housing quality and family activity patterns in helping Nigerians make informed housing decisions.

“Just as a GPS tells you the fastest route, OPTi tells you the best utility home,” Olatunji said.

“We can keep building 700,000 houses yearly, but if we do not fix how end-users choose them and how long they can stay in them, we are simply building magnets of despair instead of magnets of hope.”

The don lamented that despite several government housing programmes over the years, poverty levels in Nigeria had continued to rise from 54.4 per cent in 2007 to an estimated 63 per cent in 2025.

He maintained that poor housing conditions and urban poverty remain closely connected.

According to findings from his research, about 65 per cent of Abuja’s vulnerable middle class are currently at risk of “housing poverty” because of hidden costs linked to poor housing choices, rising fuel prices and transportation expenses.

Olatunji further disclosed that an average middle-income family in Abuja spends between 15 and 18 months searching for suitable accommodation, describing the delay as a major drain on national productivity.

As part of his recommendations, the professor called for the institutionalisation of Residential Accommodation Procurement counselling under the supervision of the Estate Surveyors and Valuers Registration Board of Nigeria and the Nigerian Institution of Estate Surveyors and Valuers.

He urged estate surveyors and valuers to evolve from conventional house agents into professional housing procurement counsellors capable of using ICT-based tools and data analytics to guide families toward better housing decisions.

The scholar also advocated long-term tenancy arrangements ranging from 16 to 33 years, arguing that tenure security would encourage tenants to invest in housing upgrades and environmental improvements.

According to him, integrating the RAP model with long-term tenancy would create benefits for citizens, professionals and government by improving housing conditions, generating wealth and reducing urban poverty.

Olatunji also called on the Federal Government to institutionalise the OPTi Decision-Support System for public and private housing counselling as part of efforts to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals.

Reacting to the lecture, the Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Strategic Partnerships, Research, Innovation and Linkages at FUOYE, Professor Babatunde Afolabi, commended Olatunji for highlighting critical challenges affecting Nigeria’s housing sector.

Afolabi noted that the lecture identified a national housing deficit estimated at about 15 million units.

“He has been able to highlight the major challenges in the Nigerian housing industry. By his estimate and research over the years, there is about a 15 million housing deficit, which means there is a lot to be done as a nation to bridge the gap,” he said.

He expressed confidence that the recommendations from the lecture would help policymakers and stakeholders address Nigeria’s housing crisis more effectively.

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Former Vice President Yemi Osinbajo (SAN) has called on governments at all levels to prioritise infrastructure development as the foundation for sustainable and inclusive housing delivery in Nigeria.

Osinbajo said the country’s persistent housing crisis is not due to a lack of workable models but rather weak political will and institutional failure to replicate proven approaches.

He made the call at the 2026 WEMABOD Limited Real Estate Outlook, themed “Unlocking Land and Infrastructure for Inclusive Housing: A Regional Agenda for Sustainable Urban Growth.”

Drawing lessons from the historic Bodija Estate in Ibadan, Osinbajo said Nigeria once demonstrated a successful housing model built on proper planning and early infrastructure provision, but failed to sustain and scale it across regions.

According to him, Bodija was designed as a complete neighbourhood rather than a mere housing cluster, with demand anticipated and planned as part of a wider development strategy.

“Demand was anticipated. It was planned for and shaped, not reacted to after the fact,” Osinbajo said.

He explained that the estate followed clear planning standards, featuring low-rise density, green buffers and open spaces, while prioritising privacy, social integration and livability.

Osinbajo noted that Bodija’s proximity to employment centres, public institutions and essential services reduced commuting time and ensured strong integration into the city’s economic and social life.

He added that the estate deliberately accommodated different income groups within the same community, with modest bungalows for low-income earners, semi-detached houses for middle-income residents and larger homes for senior professionals.

According to him, one of Bodija’s most critical strengths was the delivery of infrastructure before residents moved in. Roads, drainage systems, water supply, electricity, schools and community facilities were provided upfront, significantly reducing living costs.

Osinbajo described infrastructure as a hidden subsidy that made housing affordable by removing the burden of self-provision from households.

He said the failure of the Bodija model was not in its design, but in the inability of governments to replicate it across the South-West and other parts of the country.

Contrasting past approaches with current trends, Osinbajo observed that many modern housing estates are gated, homogeneous and driven largely by short-term commercial interests.

He noted that most new developments are located on city fringes, far from employment centres and public transport, leading to longer commute times, higher transportation costs, reduced productivity and increased carbon emissions.

He added that infrastructure in many estates has effectively been privatised, with residents forced to provide their own water, power, access roads and waste management, driving up housing costs and excluding low- and middle-income earners.

Osinbajo rejected claims that governments lack the capacity to deliver mass housing, insisting the challenge lies in misplaced priorities.

He cited examples from his tenure as Vice President, noting that Borno State delivered nearly 15,000 housing units within three and a half years despite limited internally generated revenue.

The former Vice President identified land and infrastructure as the two major constraints to inclusive housing in Nigeria.

He called for government-led land assembly, early provision of bulk infrastructure and mandatory inclusionary zoning in large housing developments.

Osinbajo also advocated properly structured public-private partnerships, where governments provide land, infrastructure and clear regulatory frameworks, while private developers contribute capital, technical expertise and execution capacity.

He said such collaboration remains key to closing Nigeria’s housing gap and achieving sustainable urban growth.

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The Federal Government, through the Ministry of Housing and Urban Development, is taking giant steps to establish a Building Materials Hub aimed at slashing construction costs and driving the delivery of affordable mass housing across Nigeria.

As part of this process, the Minister of Housing and Urban Development, Arc. Ahmed Dangiwa, will be visiting the Lekki Free Trade Zone tomorrow, Thursday, August 28, 2025.

The visit is expected to provide firsthand insights into the opportunities available within the zone, which is being reviewed as one of the possible locations for the hub.

According to Festus Adebayo, Executive Director of the Housing Development Advocacy Network (HDAN), the group will be accompanying the Minister during the visit as part of its ongoing advocacy for lower building material costs and wider access to affordable housing.

Also joining the delegation is Mr. Niyi Akinlusi, Managing Director of Lekki Worldwide Investments Limited, who will host the team and provide updates on developments within the zone.

The Ministry’s plan for a Building Materials Hub is aimed at tackling rising construction costs, encouraging local manufacturing, and making housing delivery more sustainable.

The initiative involves establishing manufacturing hubs in six locations across its geo-political zones: Sagamu (South West), Aba (South East), Warri/Asaba (South South), Ajaokuta (North Central), Kano (North West), and Gombe (North East). These hubs will focus on producing materials like roofing sheets, ceilings, tiles, and doors, with plans to attract investors to fund and manage the projects.

While the visit to Lekki is exploratory, officials say the project when eventually sited will be designed to attract investment, reduce import costs, create jobs, stimulate economic growth, and strengthen the housing and construction sector under the Renewed Hope Agenda.

By: Prince Folorunsho Adegoke
News Editor at Housing TV Africa

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