UNILAG Professor Timothy Nubi urges urban regeneration, improved infrastructure and stronger housing policies.

A Professor of Estate Management and Valuation at the University of Lagos, Timothy Nubi, has urged the Nigerian government to shift its housing policy from constructing buildings to developing sustainable, inclusive and resilient communities.

Nubi made the call during the second lecture series of the Folawiyo Entrepreneurship Centre (FEC), Yaba College of Technology, held on Wednesday.

The lecture was themed, “Sustainable Estate Development in Nigeria: Building Resilient Communities Through Clean Water, Clean Energy and Innovation.”

The don said housing delivery should not be measured solely by the number of houses constructed or settlements cleared. Instead, he said, the focus should be on affordability, functionality, inclusion, environmental responsibility and long-term resilience.

According to Nubi, Nigeria’s housing crisis extends beyond inadequate housing units to issues involving affordability, infrastructure, environmental risks, quality and institutional capacity.

“Sustainable estate development should integrate land, buildings, infrastructure, institutions and human communities to create long-term social, economic and environmental value,” he said.

Nubi Advocates Urban Regeneration

Nubi called for urban regeneration and in-situ upgrading to become central components of Nigeria’s housing strategy, particularly in underserved communities that can be improved and made safer.

He advocated development-led urban management, which would combine land-use planning, infrastructure development, environmental management, housing rehabilitation, tenure security, local economic development and community participation.

He said in-situ upgrading should be prioritised where settlements could be made safe and resilient.

Such interventions, he explained, should include improved roads and drainage systems, clean water, sanitation, electricity, waste management, public spaces, social facilities and housing rehabilitation.

Nubi also recommended phased implementation to allow residents to remain in their communities whenever possible.

He warned that temporary relocation, where unavoidable, should include clear information, fair compensation, secure return rights or suitable nearby accommodation, as well as protection for residents’ livelihoods.

Professor Warns Against Forced Displacement

The university lecturer cautioned that urban regeneration could lead to unintended consequences, including land speculation, rising rents, forced displacement and the replacement of low-income residents by wealthier groups.

To address these risks, he recommended tenure regularisation, affordability safeguards, community land arrangements, transparent valuation and inclusive financing.

Nubi also rejected the perception that sustainability only increases real estate development costs. He argued that its benefits should be evaluated through lifecycle costs.

He said responsible infrastructure and environmentally sustainable systems could reduce expenses linked to energy consumption, water supply, infrastructure failure, flood damage, maintenance and environmental degradation.

He added that sustainable estate development could improve reliability, strengthen resilience, reduce operating costs and preserve long-term property value.

Nubi urged government agencies, developers, financial institutions, professional bodies, communities, technology providers and educational institutions to work together.

He said government should provide effective spatial planning, efficient development approvals, infrastructure coordination, environmental regulation, building standards and supportive financial frameworks.

According to him, the private sector should contribute investment, innovation and infrastructure development.

YABATECH Management Highlights Entrepreneurship

Earlier, the Rector of Yaba College of Technology, Dr Ibraheem Abdul, urged students and staff to use entrepreneurship, innovation and practical knowledge to address Nigeria’s environmental and developmental challenges.

Abdul said the lecture series was designed to expand the institution’s entrepreneurial activities and expose members of the college community to practical enterprise opportunities.

He noted that the Folawiyo Entrepreneurship Centre was established through the support of Chief Tunde Fanimokun in honour of his benefactor, Chief Iyanda Olayinka Folawiyo.

The rector said Folawiyo’s entrepreneurial legacy across trading, oil and gas, energy, shipping, agriculture and real estate informed the centre’s activities.

He also described the programme’s focus on clean water, clean energy and sustainable communities as consistent with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals 6, 7 and 11.

The Chairman of the Folawiyo Entrepreneurship Centre, Chief Tunde Fanimokun, encouraged students to embrace entrepreneurship as a pathway to sustainability, personal development and wealth creation.

He urged students to take advantage of the centre’s opportunities, mentorship and practical knowledge.

Fanimokun identified real estate as a major avenue for wealth creation and advised students to pursue activities aligned with their interests.

The Director of the Entrepreneurship Centre, Dr Funmilayo Adeoye, challenged students to transform innovative ideas into sustainable businesses capable of addressing real-world challenges.

She said the centre would provide opportunities for funding, mentorship, expertise and industry partnerships to help promising ideas develop into viable enterprises.

The programme also featured awards for staff and students who emerged winners in the centre’s business idea pitchathon.

The post Nigeria Needs Sustainable, Inclusive Communities, Not Just Housing Units — Don appeared first on Housing TV Africa.

With student populations surging across Nigerian tertiary institutions, the struggle for decent accommodation has become one of the biggest challenges facing students nationwide. From universities to polytechnics, thousands of students battle yearly for limited bed spaces, forcing many to seek costly alternatives outside school campuses.

At the University of Lagos (UNILAG), with a student population exceeding 40,000, available hostel spaces remain far below demand. Only about 8,000 bed spaces exist, leaving many students scrambling for accommodation.

The situation is similar at Yaba College of Technology (Yabatech), where over 20,000 students compete for approximately 2,600 bed spaces. This year, the challenge became more difficult after one hostel containing around 1,000 bed spaces was shut down for renovation and upgrade works.

Across many Nigerian institutions, accommodation shortages continue to place pressure on students and parents alike. While private hostel developments have emerged around campuses, many students complain that rents remain beyond their reach.

To address the growing crisis, the Federal Government has launched an ambitious intervention programme through collaboration among the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund), the Federal Ministry of Education, tertiary institutions, and private developers.

The initiative, expected to gulp about N250 billion this year alone, aims to deliver modern hostel facilities through partnerships designed to increase student housing capacity nationwide.

Speaking during groundbreaking ceremonies at Lagos State University (LASU) and Yabatech, Minister of Education Dr. Tunji Alausa explained that the projects would operate under a Build-Operate-Transfer (BOT) model.

According to him, the government has earmarked N100 billion to build 500-bed student hostels across more than 50 tertiary institutions.

He also disclosed plans for 24 Public-Private Partnership (PPP) hostels with capacities ranging between 1,200 and 1,500 bed spaces in selected institutions across the country.

Under the arrangement, TETFund will contribute N1 billion while private investors provide N3 billion for each project, bringing total funding per development to N4 billion.

The minister stated that the PPP initiative alone represents approximately N96 billion in investments.

Beyond that, government plans include another N1 billion allocation for hostel projects expected to provide at least 300 bed spaces in an additional 24 institutions.

Combined together, Alausa said the projects amount to roughly N250 billion in investments dedicated to delivering modern accommodation facilities.

He said:

“We are spending about N250 billion in 2026 alone to deliver world-class, high-standard student hostels across federal and state tertiary institutions.”

The minister noted that the government intends to fast-track implementation so students can begin benefiting as quickly as possible.

According to him, PPP hostels are expected to be completed within 24 months, while several other projects have delivery timelines of less than one year.

He further revealed that hostel expansion forms part of a broader presidential education agenda executed through TETFund.

The agenda also includes:

• Rehabilitation of existing hostels
• Upgrading lecture theatres and classrooms
• Construction of new learning facilities
• Rehabilitation of engineering workshops

During the ceremony for LASU’s proposed 1,500-bed hostel project, Alausa stressed that the new facility would meet international standards while helping reduce accommodation shortages.

The Vice Chancellor of LASU, Prof. Ibiyemi Olatunji-Bello, welcomed the intervention and described it as timely.

She noted that despite the institution having more than 85,000 students, available accommodation only serves about 7,000 students.

According to her, the new hostel will significantly improve student welfare, campus safety, and social interaction.

Student leaders also praised the intervention.

Chairman of the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS), Joint Campus Council, Lagos Axis, Quadri Ishola Odewunmi, commended both the Education Minister and Yabatech management for taking steps to improve student accommodation.

He described the projects as a practical response to one of the most pressing issues affecting Nigerian students.

Odewunmi further urged the government to extend reforms beyond student welfare by improving conditions for lecturers and non-academic staff, stressing that educational development requires a comprehensive approach.

As institutions continue to expand admissions and student populations grow, stakeholders believe the success of these projects could provide lasting relief to one of Nigeria’s biggest tertiary education challenges.

The post FG Moves to Address Campus Housing Crisis with N250bn Hostel Projects Nationwide appeared first on Housing TV Africa.

The octogenarian has taken her case to the Federal High Court, naming the college’s Governing Council, the Rector Dr. Olubunmi Owoso, Engineer O. A. Olabode, and Mrs. Agbaje Williams as respondents.

Represented by her lawyer, E. O. Etomi of FRA Williams Chambers, Mrs. Osemwegie is seeking an extension to apply for the annulment of an order made by Justice Dipeolu on August 30, 2024. This order allegedly granted permission to the college to enforce a previous judgment issued on February 2, 2007, enabling them to take possession of her property.

• Reliefs Sought in Court
  Mrs. Osemwegie’s motion requests:
• An extension of time to contest the August 30 order.
• The annulment of the court order granting police assistance to seize her property.
• A stay on the enforcement of the 2007 judgment, citing it as unenforceable.
• Cancellation of any execution based on what she claims is a “non-existent” judgment.

In her submission, she alleges that the court was misled into enforcing the 2007 judgment, arguing that it contained no orders against her and that the Federal High Court lacked jurisdiction in the matter. She also stated that she was not notified about the motion for enforcement, which she says violates her rights.

Petition to Police for Investigation
Beyond the court case, Mrs. Osemwegie has petitioned the Assistant Inspector-General of Police at the Force CID, Alagbon, Ikoyi, Lagos, demanding an investigation into what she describes as “fraudulent interference with justice” and “willful damage to property.” In the petition, submitted on October 10, 2024, she claimed that on October 2, unknown armed men forcefully evicted her from her residence, destroyed her belongings, and left her homeless.

Her lawyer, Asia E. Elvis, explained that the 2007 judgment was misrepresented to forcibly take over the property. He emphasized that Mrs. Osemwegie legally acquired the property from the Federal Government, and YABATECH should be aware of her ownership. The petition suggests that the eviction was orchestrated by land grabbers rather than the institution itself.

“Our client, who is over 80 years old, has been rendered homeless with her belongings destroyed due to a purported non-existent judgment,” the petition reads. Mrs. Osemwegie has requested the AIG’s urgent intervention to investigate those involved and verify the legitimacy of the institution’s claim.

The court has yet to set a hearing date for the motion, and the respondents have not filed any response as of the time of this report.

The post Retired YABATECH Lecturer Sues College Over Alleged Demolition of Property appeared first on Housing TV Africa.