REDAN Identifies Finance, Land and Infrastructure as Keys to Expanding Housing Delivery

The Real Estate Developers Association of Nigeria (REDAN) has called for stronger partnerships among government, property developers, financial institutions and investors to accelerate housing delivery and improve the investment environment for Nigeria’s real estate sector.

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REDAN President, Oba Akintoye Adeoye, made the call at the fifth Amadeo Business Summit 2026 in Enugu, where he identified access to affordable long-term finance, serviced land, infrastructure and predictable regulation as essential conditions for sustainable housing development. The association said coordinated action across the public and private sectors would help developers mobilise capital, overcome delivery constraints and expand access to housing.

REDAN Calls for Coordinated Action Across the Housing Sector

Adeoye said Nigeria’s housing challenge extends beyond increasing the number of homes built. Developers also need an environment in which they can secure funding on viable terms, investors can operate with confidence and homebuyers can access sustainable mortgage products.

He stressed that stronger public-private partnerships, innovative financing mechanisms, improved land administration, effective regulation and higher professional standards were necessary to support sustainable housing delivery.

The position reflects the interconnected nature of the housing market. Government agencies influence land administration, planning approvals and infrastructure provision, while developers provide project expertise and construction capacity. Financial institutions and investors supply the capital required to move projects from planning to completion.

Without effective coordination among these groups, housing projects can face delays, rising costs and funding gaps that undermine delivery.

Affordable Long-Term Finance Remains a Major Constraint

Access to finance remains central to the viability of housing development in Nigeria. Developers need sufficient capital to acquire land, purchase building materials, provide infrastructure and complete construction before receiving full payment from buyers.

When funding is expensive, limited or available only for short periods, developers face greater financial pressure. These conditions can discourage investment, delay projects and increase the prices at which completed properties must be sold.

Adeoye called for an enabling environment that allows developers to access affordable, long-term finance while enabling homebuyers to obtain sustainable mortgage solutions.

Expanding housing finance also requires products that reflect the different financial circumstances of Nigerian households. Conventional mortgages may not adequately serve buyers with irregular earnings or limited access to formal credit, making alternative financing arrangements important to broader homeownership.

Stronger links between developers, mortgage institutions, commercial banks and institutional investors could help diversify funding sources and support projects targeting different income groups.

However, financing alone will not guarantee affordability. The cost of land, construction materials, infrastructure and regulatory compliance will continue to influence the final price of homes.

Access to Serviced Land and Infrastructure Matters

REDAN also identified access to serviced land and infrastructure deficits among the challenges stakeholders must address.

Serviced land typically has access to essential infrastructure such as roads, electricity, water and drainage. Where these facilities are absent, developers may need to finance them before construction can proceed, increasing project costs and extending delivery timelines.

The additional expenditure can make developments less attractive to investors and push selling prices beyond the reach of lower- and middle-income households.

Improved land administration could also help reduce uncertainty surrounding ownership, documentation and development approvals. Clearer processes can strengthen investor confidence, reduce transaction delays and make it easier to prepare viable housing projects.

For government, coordinated land and infrastructure planning could help direct development towards areas where supporting services can be provided efficiently. For developers, predictable access to land and approvals can improve project planning and reduce avoidable costs.

The effectiveness of these measures will depend on implementation across the different levels of government responsible for land management, urban planning and infrastructure provision.

Regulatory Certainty Could Strengthen Investor Confidence

Adeoye said investors need a transparent and effective regulatory framework to commit capital to housing projects with confidence.

Property development involves substantial upfront investment and long project timelines. Uncertainty over approvals, land documentation, regulatory requirements and compliance obligations can increase risk and make financing more difficult to secure.

Clear rules and consistent enforcement can help developers assess project costs more accurately, while investors can make decisions based on a better understanding of their obligations and potential returns.

REDAN’s emphasis on professional standards also points to the importance of accountability across the real estate industry. Proper project documentation, credible development practices and transparent dealings can help strengthen confidence among investors, lenders and homebuyers.

Effective regulation must also protect consumers. As housing transactions involve significant financial commitments, buyers need reliable information about property ownership, project status, contractual terms and the parties responsible for delivery.

A stronger regulatory environment could therefore support both investment and consumer protection, provided that compliance requirements remain clear and consistently applied.

South-East Offers Opportunities for Housing and Urban Development

Adeoye highlighted the South-East’s potential for real estate investment, urban development and economic expansion, provided the region receives appropriate policy support and strategic investment.

He said improved infrastructure, innovative financing mechanisms and stronger public-private partnerships could help the region unlock opportunities for housing delivery, job creation and wider economic growth.

Housing development can stimulate activity across several sectors, including construction, building materials, transport, financial services and property management. New residential communities can also support demand for retail, education, healthcare and other services.

Realising these benefits requires more than announcing projects. Developers need access to land, finance and infrastructure, while buyers need homes that match their incomes and access to employment and essential services.

Well-planned housing investment can support urban expansion, but poorly coordinated development can increase infrastructure pressures and leave residents with high transport and service costs.

The region’s ability to translate investment interest into completed and affordable homes will therefore depend on the quality of project preparation, financing and implementation.

Partnerships Must Translate Into Completed Homes

REDAN’s call adds to a broader industry discussion about the role of collaboration in addressing Nigeria’s housing constraints.

In September, Adeoye urged developers to move away from operating in isolation and share expertise and opportunities across the industry. That call focused on collaboration within REDAN, while the latest statement places greater emphasis on cooperation among government, developers, financiers, investors and other stakeholders.

The distinction matters because housing delivery requires coordination across the entire development process. Government can support projects through land access, infrastructure and effective regulation; developers can contribute construction expertise and project management; and financial institutions and investors can provide capital suited to the projects’ timelines and risk profiles.

Partnerships must also establish clear responsibilities, risk-sharing arrangements and accountability. Without these safeguards, cooperation may fail to resolve the financial and operational problems that prevent projects from reaching completion.

For Nigeria’s housing market, the priority is to convert collaboration into viable projects that deliver homes at prices buyers can afford.

Outlook

REDAN’s appeal underscores the need to address housing finance, land administration, infrastructure and regulation as connected parts of Nigeria’s housing delivery challenge.

Stronger partnerships could improve access to capital, reduce some development bottlenecks and create opportunities for investment across the country, including the South-East. Their success, however, will depend on whether stakeholders translate policy commitments into transparent agreements, effective implementation and completed housing projects.

For developers and investors, a more predictable operating environment could improve the prospects for long-term housing investment. For homebuyers, the central test will be whether these efforts expand the supply of safe, decent homes that remain within reach of household incomes.

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