The Real Estate Developers Association of Nigeria (REDAN) has expressed confidence that Nigeria can bridge its housing deficit within the next decade if governments at all levels prioritise faster land titling, improved infrastructure, affordable mortgage financing and stronger collaboration with the private sector.

President of REDAN, Oba Akintoye Adeoye, stated this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja, where he outlined key reforms needed to accelerate housing delivery across the country.

Adeoye, who is also the paramount ruler of Okeigbo in Ondo State, said although REDAN alone cannot eliminate the nation’s housing shortage, the association remains a critical contributor to efforts aimed at reducing the deficit.

According to him, every new housing development contributes to narrowing the gap and improving access to decent accommodation for Nigerians.

“Whatever the size of the shortage, every new building reduces the deficit. REDAN may not close the gap alone, but we remain a major contributor,” he said.

The REDAN president stressed that addressing Nigeria’s infrastructure challenges is fundamental to unlocking large expanses of land suitable for residential development.

He noted that many potentially viable locations remain underdeveloped due to inadequate road networks, unreliable electricity supply and limited access to water and other essential services.

“If we want to bridge the deficit, we must be intentional and pragmatic. We have to close the infrastructure gap first,” Adeoye said.

He also identified delays in land administration processes as a major obstacle to housing development, urging governments to simplify and accelerate the issuance of Certificates of Occupancy (C of O), Rights of Occupancy and other development approvals.

According to him, prolonged approval timelines discourage investors, increase project costs and slow down housing delivery.

“Land titling requires policy attention. Certificates of Occupancy and building approvals should be processed within one to four weeks,” he said.

He lamented that some approvals currently take as long as five years, a period he described as sufficient to complete thousands of housing units in other countries.

“Some approvals take up to five years. That period is enough to complete tens of thousands of housing units elsewhere,” he added.

Adeoye further emphasised the importance of affordable and long-term financing in expanding homeownership and stimulating growth in the housing sector.

He called for access to funding at single-digit interest rates and repayment plans that align with the long-term nature of housing investments.

“We need affordable funding at single-digit interest rates and long repayment periods. Long-term projects cannot be financed with short-term funds,” he said.

He explained that affordable mortgage financing remains essential for many Nigerians who desire homeownership but lack the financial capacity to purchase houses outright.

“Without affordable mortgages, many Nigerians cannot buy houses, regardless of the number built. Mortgage financing is critical to closing the housing deficit,” Adeoye stated.

Commenting on the Federal Government’s Renewed Hope Housing Programme, the REDAN president acknowledged ongoing efforts under the initiative but called for greater commitment to affordability and mortgage support.

“The programme is ongoing, but government should be more intentional, make it more affordable and provide mortgages for beneficiaries,” he said.

Adeoye assured Nigerians that members of REDAN would continue investing in quality housing projects despite prevailing economic and operational challenges in the real estate sector.

He reiterated the association’s commitment to partnering with government and other stakeholders to increase housing supply, promote homeownership and contribute to the nation’s economic development.

The post REDAN: Nigeria Can Close Housing Deficit in 10 Years with Affordable Mortgages, Faster Land Titling appeared first on Housing TV Africa.

The Nigerian Institution of Estate Surveyors and Valuers (NIESV) has called on the Federal Government to reform Abuja’s land governance framework, citing weak coordination, fragmented administration, and inefficient titling systems as barriers to investment and land-based revenue generation in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

The appeal was made during the 32nd Annual Johnwood Ekpenyong Memorial Lecture in Abuja, which gathered policymakers, industry experts, and real estate stakeholders under the theme: “From Compliance to Competitiveness: Positioning Abuja Land Governance Framework for Investment Confidence and Revenue Growth.”

Delivering the lecture, NIESV Immediate Past President Johnbull Osarume emphasized that effective land governance goes beyond regulatory compliance. “Land governance is about managing confidence. Weak systems erode trust, and without trust, investment will not flow,” he said.

Key recommendations included establishing a unified land governance architecture in the FCT, with harmonized workflows, standardized data, and clearly defined service timelines across land-related agencies. Osarume also advocated for a Land Governance Coordination Council to oversee compliance, resolve disputes, and deploy a single digital platform to streamline land applications, tracking, and service delivery.

The lecture further urged the transformation of Abuja’s land records into a fully automated digital land market, encompassing allocation, titling, valuation, consent, and payment processes within guaranteed timelines. “Digitization will reposition land as a productive economic asset rather than a dormant resource,” Osarume noted.

Another critical area highlighted was the formalization of peri-urban land holdings, where unclear titles and large industrial estates remain unattractive to investors. NIESV President Victor Alonge recommended simplified, low-cost titling frameworks and phased area-based registration to integrate these lands into formal planning and revenue systems.

“Over 90 percent of land in Nigeria remains unregistered. Such land is dead capital that cannot be leveraged for credit or investment,” Alonge said, stressing the importance of professional expertise and ethical standards in credible land administration.

Alonge drew lessons from cities like Singapore, Kigali, and Riyadh, demonstrating how efficient land governance promotes urban growth, investor confidence, and revenue mobilization. He concluded that Abuja’s untapped land potential could be fully leveraged with structured reforms, professional integration, and technological adoption.

The Johnwood Ekpenyong Memorial Lecture, now in its 32nd edition, honors the founding president of NIESV while reinforcing the relevance of estate surveying and valuation to national development.

The post NIESV Urges Abuja Land Policy Reforms to Boost Investment and Revenue appeared first on Housing TV Africa.

The call was made at the recent launch of Edge Facility Managers in Lagos.

Victor Alonge, the First Vice President of the Nigerian Institution of Estate Surveyors and Valuers, highlighted the importance of legal titles in accessing finance.

READ ALSO: Imo State Builders Warn Against Quackery Following Building Collapse

He explained that without a legal title, property owners cannot use their property as collateral to secure loans from banks. Alonge emphasized the need for state governors to take the issue seriously and improve the land titling system.

According to Alonge, about 94% of property in Lagos State currently does not have legal titles. He pointed out that while Lagos State has made some progress in improving its land titling system, other states like Nasarawa, Ogun, and Oyo lag behind.

Chudi Ubosi, the Managing Partner of Ubosi Eleh & Co., echoed Alonge’s sentiments, noting that many property owners are reluctant to obtain formal titles due to a lack of trust in the government and a fear of additional taxes.

READ ALSO: Estate Developer Accuses FCDA of Illegally Demolishing Property in Abuja

Ubosi emphasized the need for the government to educate and build awareness among the public about the benefits of having a formal title to land.

Peju Fatuyi, the Chief Executive Officer of Edge Facility Managers, stated that the purpose of the launch was to raise public awareness about activities within the facility management space.

She stressed the importance of addressing the issue of land titling to unlock the full potential of the real estate sector in Lagos State.

The stakeholders agreed that streamlining the land titling process and improving public awareness about its benefits are crucial steps toward addressing the property crisis in Lagos State and ensuring sustainable growth in the building industry.

The post Building Industry Stakeholders Call for Streamlined Land Titling Process in Lagos appeared first on Housing TV Africa.