By: Tijani Salako.
The experts in the built environment have called for reforms in land access, housing finance, transportation and construction practices to make adequate housing more affordable and accessible to Nigerians.
They made the call during a panel session at the 2026 World Habitat Day, held at Lagos State Television, Blue Roof Hall, noting that affordability and sustainability in housing should not come at the expense of building quality and safety.
Builder Kunle Awobodu, who spoke on the need to improve construction practices, stressed the importance of using appropriate building materials and ensuring that structures meet required standards, noting that affordable housing must also be safe and durable.
He cited historical buildings in Lagos, including Shitta-Bey Mosque, built in 1892, and the Candido Da Rocha house on Kakawa Street, built in 1874, as examples of structures that have endured over time, pointing to the need to examine construction methods and materials that promote durability.
He also emphasised the need for proper structural assessment and adherence to building standards, particularly as the country seeks ways of reducing the cost of housing without compromising safety.
Other panelists also identified land as a major component of housing costs, stressing that the acquisition, accessibility and titling of land continue to affect the affordability of housing developments.
The panelists further called for greater government intervention through measures such as land incentives, subsidies and social housing schemes, rather than relying solely on market forces to provide homes for low- and middle-income earners.
Another panelist identified developer profit margins as a hidden cost in housing delivery, arguing that the margin added to development costs could contribute significantly to the final price paid by homebuyers and tenants.
The panel also examined the role of satellite towns and transportation, with panelists stressing that moving housing development away from expensive city centres would only provide a meaningful solution if residents could conveniently and affordably connect to places of work and other economic opportunities.
They advocated transit-oriented development (TOD), which encourages higher-density, mixed-use development around efficient public transportation corridors, as a way of reducing dependence on private vehicles and making housing outside the city centre more viable.
On housing finance, another panelist proposed greater mobilisation of capital into the sector, including the use of Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs) and other capital-market instruments to provide long-term funding for housing development.
The panelists also stressed the importance of developing the capacity of artisans and enforcing construction standards, noting that poor workmanship and the use of substandard materials could undermine efforts to provide affordable housing.
They maintained that the quest for affordable housing must therefore be approached as a combination of land, finance, transportation, construction quality and planning reforms, rather than focusing solely on the number of houses being built.
