Fresh calls for affordable housing have emerged as religious leaders, legal advocates and housing stakeholders urge stronger action to address Nigeria’s growing housing shortage.

General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG), Pastor Enoch Adejare Adeboye, used the church’s August Thanksgiving Service to pray for estate developers and Nigerians seeking decent housing. During the service, he encouraged worshippers around the world to pray that God would empower developers to build homes that ordinary Nigerians can afford.

Pastor Adeboye also prayed for tenants, asking that they receive the resources needed to build or purchase their own homes. His message reflected growing concern over the country’s housing deficit and the increasing difficulty many families face in securing decent accommodation.

Housing Costs Continue to Outpace Workers’ Income

The renewed attention comes as millions of Nigerians continue to struggle with access to affordable housing. Estimates indicate that more than 15 million people remain without adequate housing, while rising construction costs and limited housing finance continue to widen the gap between demand and supply.

Current prices within the Federal Government’s Renewed Hope Estates illustrate the affordability challenge. One-bedroom homes are priced at about ₦8.5 million, while two-bedroom units cost around ₦12 million. These figures stand in sharp contrast to the national minimum wage of ₦70,000 per month, making home ownership difficult for many low-income earners.

Falana Calls on Labour to Demand Housing Rights

Senior Advocate of Nigeria and human rights lawyer, Femi Falana, has also urged organised labour to expand its advocacy beyond wage negotiations by demanding the full implementation of housing and social welfare policies.

Speaking at a symposium in Abuja, Falana argued that workers’ welfare should include access to affordable housing, quality healthcare, pensions and other social protection programmes. He said these benefits are essential to improving living standards and ensuring long-term economic security.

Falana specifically called for the enforcement of the National Housing Act. He noted that workers contribute three per cent of their monthly earnings to the National Housing Fund with the expectation of accessing affordable homes. However, he questioned why many contributors have not benefited from the scheme despite years of deductions.

He urged labour unions to demand greater accountability and ensure governments implement existing housing policies that support workers.

Stakeholders Seek Stronger Housing Policies

Housing professionals and industry stakeholders have echoed similar concerns, saying affordable housing should become a national development priority.

During discussions at the African International Housing Show (AIHS), experts urged governments to increase investment in affordable housing and supporting infrastructure. They also called for policies that prioritise low-income households, informal sector workers, women and vulnerable groups.

Participants identified several barriers to affordable housing delivery, including rapid population growth, urbanisation, insecurity, climate change, weak urban planning, limited infrastructure and inadequate housing finance.

According to the stakeholders, many low-income families often settle in unsafe or poorly serviced communities because they have few housing options. They warned that inadequate housing contributes to poverty, social exclusion and rising insecurity.

Experts Recommend New Financing Models

Industry stakeholders also recommended practical measures to improve access to affordable homes. They called for the development of a National Affordable Housing Strategy with measurable annual housing delivery targets.

The experts urged governments to increase budget allocations for housing while encouraging stronger partnerships with pension funds, insurance companies

sovereign wealth funds and private investors to finance large-scale housing projects.

They also recommended that mortgage institutions introduce financing products designed specifically for informal sector workers by adopting alternative methods of assessing income. In addition, they said housing cooperatives should play a larger role in expanding affordable home ownership across Nigeria and other African countries.

Affordable Housing Remains Central to National Development

The growing support from religious leaders, labour advocates and housing professionals highlights the increasing urgency of Nigeria’s housing challenge. While stakeholders continue to propose different solutions, many agree that stronger policy implementation, improved housing finance and closer collaboration between government and the private sector will be necessary to make affordable housing accessible to millions of Nigerians.

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Human rights lawyer and Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), Femi Falana, has urged organised labour to broaden its advocacy beyond minimum wage negotiations by demanding the enforcement of existing laws and policies that guarantee affordable housing, healthcare, pensions, and other social welfare benefits for Nigerian workers.

Speaking at a symposium in Abuja held in honour of the late labour activist Dr. Segun Osoba, Falana argued that workers’ welfare extends beyond salary increases. He said labour unions should compel governments at all levels to fully implement social protection programmes that improve workers’ living standards and provide long-term economic security.

Falana specifically called for the implementation of the National Housing Act, noting that workers contribute three per cent of their monthly earnings to the National Housing Fund to facilitate access to affordable homes. He questioned why many contributors have yet to benefit from the scheme despite years of deductions, stressing that labour unions should insist on accountability and effective implementation of the programme.

He also expressed concern over Nigeria’s growing housing shortage, stating that millions of Nigerians remain without access to decent accommodation. According to him, affordable housing programmes must be strengthened to ensure workers can benefit from government-backed housing initiatives and improve their quality of life.

Beyond housing, Falana urged labour leaders to advocate for improved health insurance, prompt payment of pensions, better social protection measures, and increased allowances for workers. He maintained that enforcing existing welfare laws would have a greater impact on workers’ well-being than focusing solely on periodic wage increases.

Stakeholders believe Falana’s position reinforces the need for stronger implementation of housing and social welfare policies as part of broader labour reforms. They argue that improving access to affordable housing, healthcare, and social security would complement wage improvements and contribute to a higher standard of living for Nigerian workers.

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