FG Flags 15.2m Unsafe Homes

The Federal Government has disclosed that about 15.2 million homes across Nigeria are structurally inadequate, exposing the depth of the country’s housing crisis.

The Minister of Housing and Urban Development, Ahmed Dangiwa, made this known in a post on the Ministry’s official X handle following the presentation of findings from the National Housing Data Initiative by the National Housing Data Technical Committee in Abuja. The report revealed wide regional disparities in housing quality, with Kano State recording the highest number of inadequate housing units, while Bayelsa State had the lowest.

Dangiwa explained that the findings confirm that Nigeria’s housing problem goes beyond the number of houses available, extending to the quality, safety and livability of existing homes. He noted that variations in housing deficit figures in the past were largely due to differences in data sources and methodologies.

According to him, the adoption of harmonised and internationally recognised assessment tools has made it possible to clearly establish that Nigeria currently has about 15.2 million housing units that fall below acceptable standards. He said these homes physically exist but do not meet minimum requirements for safety, durability, access to basic services, infrastructure and overall habitability.

The minister stated that the conclusions were drawn using the Household Crowding Index, the Adequate Housing Index and a Composite Index Methodology. These were supported by data from the National Population Commission, National Bureau of Statistics, Central Bank of Nigeria and other relevant housing sector institutions.

The National Housing Data Technical Committee, which was set up in August 2024, was tasked with developing a harmonised national housing data framework to support evidence-based policymaking, planning and investment in the housing sector.

Dangiwa emphasised that the findings clearly show that addressing Nigeria’s housing challenge requires more than constructing new homes. He said there is an urgent need to upgrade existing housing stock, regenerate deteriorating neighbourhoods, improve infrastructure and basic services, and ensure safe and dignified living conditions for citizens.

While stressing the importance of the report, the minister noted that housing inadequacy represents only one aspect of Nigeria’s broader housing deficit. He called for the same level of analytical focus to be applied to other critical issues, including housing affordability, access to land and secure tenure, availability and cost of housing finance, infrastructure gaps, urban–rural disparities, population growth, urbanisation trends and demographic changes.

He explained that a comprehensive assessment of these factors is essential for accurately determining current needs, projecting future demand and developing sustainable and responsive housing policies.

The minister formally accepted the National Housing Data Initiative report on behalf of the Ministry, describing it as a significant intellectual and institutional milestone in Nigeria’s housing and urban development reforms. He also announced that the Federal Government has begun steps to institutionalise housing data through the creation of a National Housing Data Centre.

According to him, the proposed centre will initially be housed within the Ministry and later established through a statutory framework or special purpose vehicle. The centre is expected to support housing policy formulation, guide investment decisions, improve access to housing finance and enhance large-scale housing delivery.

Dangiwa commended the Technical Committee, led by Taofeeq Olatinwo, and acknowledged the contributions of participating agencies and industry stakeholders. He added that the initiative aligns with President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda and strengthens the government’s capacity to deliver affordable and social housing nationwide.