Africa is grappling with a severe housing shortage estimated at no fewer than 50 million homes, alongside a housing finance gap of about $1.4 trillion, Nigeria’s Minister of Housing and Urban Development, Ahmed Musa Dangiwa, has said.
Addressing participants at the 7th Africa Housing Awards held in Abuja, Dangiwa described the housing shortfall as one of the continent’s most pressing development emergencies, with implications for economic growth, social stability, and sustainable urban development.
Worsening outlook
According to the minister, the situation could deteriorate sharply if urgent action is not taken.
“The deficit trajectory is worsening and could rise to about 130 million housing units by 2030 if solutions are not accelerated. Housing has become one of Africa’s most critical development pressures,” he said.
He noted that rapid urbanisation, population growth, weak housing finance systems, and limited capacity for large-scale housing delivery are intensifying the crisis. An estimated 54 million Africans currently live in urban slums, underscoring the scale of unmet demand across major cities.
Economic and social risks
Dangiwa explained that housing shortages are no longer just a social concern but a structural economic challenge, affecting labour mobility, productivity, urban resilience, and social cohesion across the continent.
Nigeria, he added, reflects the broader African picture, with a conservatively estimated housing deficit exceeding 17 million units, driven by decades of underinvestment, rising construction costs, and limited access to affordable mortgages.
The minister said the Federal Government is repositioning its approach under President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, moving away from isolated projects toward a coordinated national housing delivery framework.
Key interventions include:
The commencement of over 10,000 housing units across 14 states and the Federal Capital Territory within the last two years.
Urban renewal and slum-upgrading projects impacting more than 150 communities nationwide.
Increased focus on public–private partnerships and more efficient housing finance mechanisms.
Despite these efforts, Dangiwa stressed that no single country can bridge Africa’s housing gap alone, calling for deeper regional cooperation, greater private sector involvement, and scalable financing models that can attract long-term investment.
Spotlight at Africa Housing Awards
The scale of the housing deficit dominated discussions at the Africa Housing Awards, where 52 individuals and institutions were honoured for initiatives aimed at expanding housing supply and improving sector standards.
Festus Adebayo, convener of the awards, said the housing and construction industry remains a major driver of employment and economic activity but is under growing strain from rising demand, regulatory weaknesses, and global economic pressures.
“These challenges informed the creation of the awards platform to promote accountability and best practice across the sector,” he said.
Adebayo added that the Housing Development Advocacy Network has adopted a zero-tolerance stance on unethical practices, warning that fraudulent activities and sharp practices—by any actor, including award recipients—would be exposed to protect homebuyers and investors.
He disclosed that stakeholders are collaborating with the National Assembly, the Federal Capital Territory Administration, the Federal Ministry of Housing, Lagos State authorities, and other regulators to strengthen housing policies and align them with international best practices.
Together, speakers at the event agreed that addressing Africa’s housing deficit will require sustained political will, regulatory reform, innovative financing, and coordinated action at national and continental levels.
Source:Africa Publicity
