Nigeria’s housing sector is in dire straits, with over 75% of the country’s 42 million housing units classified as substandard, according to the Minister of Housing and Urban Development, Arc. Musa Dangiwa.
The Minister also disclosed that nearly half of the population resides in informal settlements, highlighting the urgent need for intervention.
Dangiwa made the revelations during the 2nd Session of the 2024 UN-Habitat Executive Board Meeting in Nairobi, Kenya.
In a statement released by the ministry, he described the housing crisis as a critical challenge to Nigeria’s urban development goals.
The federal government, he noted, is addressing the crisis through the National Urban Renewal and Slum Upgrade Programme (NURSUP).
This initiative has so far completed 54 projects aimed at improving living conditions across the country, with another 56 projects currently underway.
These projects include upgrading essential infrastructure such as water supply, solar-powered streetlights, access roads, drainage systems, and waste management solutions.
“The government is committed to addressing the housing deficit while improving the quality of urban life for Nigerians,” Dangiwa said, adding that robust partnerships with organizations like UN-Habitat are key to ensuring long-term sustainable development.
He further emphasized the need for coordinated efforts to tackle substandard housing and create inclusive urban environments that meet global standards.
