The Federal Mortgage Bank of Nigeria (FMBN) and the Office of the Surveyor-General of the Federation say the Federal Government’s National Housing Data Programme will end years of uncertainty and conflicting figures in Nigeria’s housing planning.
They made the statement on Wednesday at the Stakeholders’ Workshop on the Validation of the National Housing Data Programme Report and the Regulation of the Built Environment in the Housing Sector in Abuja.
The workshop was organised by the Federal Ministry of Housing and Urban Development.
The Managing Director of FMBN, Shehu Osidi, said credible and accessible housing data was essential for effective planning, particularly as Nigeria’s population continues to grow.
“We cannot effectively plan for the housing needs of our growing population without credible, reliable and accessible housing data.
“The establishment of a robust National Housing Data Programme therefore represents a significant step towards strengthening evidence-based decision-making in the sector.
“The proposed framework for data collection, management and sharing, as well as the establishment and operationalisation of a National Housing Data Centre, will provide a stronger foundation.
“It will help in understanding housing demand and supply, housing affordability and the evolving needs of Nigerians across different segments of society.”
According to Osidi, FMBN has consistently recognised the importance of data in delivering its mandate as Nigeria’s foremost secondary mortgage institution and manager of the National Housing Fund Scheme.
“Our ability to expand access to affordable housing finance, support housing development and deepen the mortgage market is significantly strengthened by the availability of accurate and timely information,” Osidi stated.
He said the bank had participated fully in the development of the programme and would continue to support initiatives aimed at improving the quality, availability and utilisation of housing data.
Osidi noted that the validation exercise was critical in reviewing housing data sources, methodologies, data-sharing arrangements and approaches for estimating the National Housing Deficit and Housing Affordability Index.
According to him, addressing Nigeria’s housing needs requires a coordinated approach involving government institutions, financial organisations, developers, professionals and other stakeholders.
The FMBN boss also highlighted the bank’s efforts towards strengthening the mortgage ecosystem through the development of the National Mortgage Registry.
He said the digital platform, which has been approved by the National Council on Land, Housing and Urban Development and is domiciled with FMBN, would serve as a central repository for mortgage transactions across the country.
According to him, the registry will enhance transparency, improve access to mortgage information, strengthen risk management and boost confidence in Nigeria’s mortgage market.
Osidi said the success of both the National Housing Data Programme and the Mortgage Registry would depend on strong collaboration among ministries, departments and agencies, state land registries, financial institutions, mortgage operators, developers and professional bodies.
Meanwhile, Surveyor-General of the Federation (SGoF) Abdulganiyu Adebomehin called for a comprehensive assessment of Nigeria’s housing stock and population figures to determine the actual housing deficit.
“We need to know the number of houses we have. Let us know our real population. Even if it is not very accurate, let it be near it. Then divide it by the number of houses so that we can determine the housing deficit,” he said.
He emphasised that Nigeria’s housing challenge should not only be viewed from the perspective of the number of houses required, but also the quality and suitability of available housing.
The Surveyor-General said proper data would help government understand future housing demand, including population growth and household formation trends.
Rep. Awaji-Inombek Abiante, Chairman of the House of Representatives Committee on Urban Development and Regional Planning, expressed concern over inconsistent estimates of Nigeria’s housing deficit.
He said previous figures ranging from 17 million to 50 million had raised questions about the sources of the data.
He, however, warned against unplanned urban development, particularly in Abuja, where he said indiscriminate conversion of residential areas into commercial centres was gradually creating urban slums.
Abiante, who called for proper impact assessments before changes in land use, urged authorities to ensure fairness in enforcing the Abuja Master Plan.
He cautioned against selective implementation of planning regulations that could disproportionately affect low-income residents, stressing that housing interventions must benefit all Nigerians.
The lawmaker pledged the National Assembly’s support for legislative initiatives that would strengthen the housing sector and improve access to decent accommodation.
