Housing Stakeholders Urge Darma to Prioritise Sustainable Housing Delivery

Housing Groups Call for Policy Continuity and Reform Under Darma

Housing stakeholders, including professional bodies and advocacy groups, have called on the newly appointed Minister of Housing and Urban Development, Muttaqha Darma, to prioritise sustainable housing delivery, policy continuity, and infrastructure development. The recommendations follow his recent appointment and come amid ongoing efforts to address Nigeria’s housing deficit and improve urban development outcomes.

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Stakeholders Emphasise Policy Continuity and Reform

The Nathaniel Atebije Foundation for Planning Advocacy (NAFPA) and the Association of Housing Corporations of Nigeria (AHCN) have urged the minister to sustain and strengthen existing housing initiatives while refining strategies for improved delivery outcomes. According to the groups, continuity in policy implementation is essential to maintaining investor confidence and achieving measurable progress in the housing sector.

They stressed that the minister should build on reforms introduced under previous leadership, particularly those aimed at expanding affordable housing, strengthening mortgage systems, and improving institutional coordination.

Call for Planning-Led Housing Development

Stakeholders highlighted the need to prioritise physical planning as a foundation for sustainable housing delivery. They warned that focusing solely on the number of housing units delivered, without considering planning quality, risks creating poorly integrated and unsustainable communities.

Experts argue that housing developments must align with broader urban plans and be executed by qualified professionals to ensure liveability, infrastructure integration, and long-term sustainability. Poorly planned estates, especially those located in flood-prone or inaccessible areas, were identified as key risks requiring urgent review.

Infrastructure and Serviced Land as Critical Enablers

A central recommendation from stakeholders is the prioritisation of infrastructure provision within housing developments. They emphasised that housing projects cannot succeed without access to essential services such as roads, drainage, power, and water supply.

In addition, stakeholders called for increased availability of serviced land with clear titles, which would enable faster development and reduce project costs. This approach is seen as more scalable than direct government-led construction and could encourage greater private sector participation.

Focus on Affordable Housing and Local Materials

Stakeholders also urged the minister to promote affordable housing models that leverage locally sourced building materials. This strategy is expected to reduce construction costs and improve accessibility for low- and middle-income households.

The emphasis on affordability aligns with broader concerns about rising construction costs and limited access to housing finance, which continue to constrain homeownership across Nigeria.

Strengthening Housing Finance and Partnerships

The Association of Housing Corporations of Nigeria underscored the importance of improving access to mortgage financing and deepening collaboration with private sector stakeholders. According to the group, sustainable housing delivery requires coordinated efforts across government agencies, developers, financial institutions, and professional bodies.

This position aligns with broader policy discussions around public-private partnerships as a key mechanism for scaling housing delivery in Nigeria.

Sector Context: Persistent Housing Deficit

Nigeria’s housing sector continues to face structural challenges, including inadequate supply, financing constraints, and rapid urbanisation. Estimates indicate that a significant portion of the population lacks access to adequate housing, underscoring the urgency of reform.

Experts note that sustainable housing delivery requires a holistic approach that integrates policy, finance, infrastructure, and construction processes into a coordinated system.

The calls by housing stakeholders set a clear agenda for Minister Darma as he assumes leadership of the sector. Priorities including policy continuity, infrastructure provision, planning-led development, and affordable housing will be critical to addressing Nigeria’s housing deficit.

For investors and policymakers, the emphasis on sustainability and coordinated delivery highlights a shift toward more structured and long-term solutions in Nigeria’s housing market.

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