Stakeholders Urge Accountability for Complicit Officials in Nigeria’s Demolition Crisis
The Housing Development Advocacy Network (HDAN) has called for greater accountability in Nigeria’s housing sector, stressing that recent demolitions of completed houses and estates reflect deeper failures within government approval systems. The group’s Executive Director, Festus Adebayo, warned that the recurring demolitions represent not only economic waste but also a symptom of entrenched corruption in regulatory institutions.
Root causes of illegal housing projects
According to Adebayo, the proliferation of unapproved or irregular housing developments is less about developer misconduct alone and more about government complicity. He questioned why authorities consistently allow illegal projects to proceed for years through planning, construction, and even occupation, before taking enforcement action.
“Where was the government when its staff granted approvals and when these structures were being constructed?” Adebayo asked, arguing that the failure to intervene earlier suggests negligence or collusion by public officials.
Economic and social impact
Stakeholders highlighted the significant losses inflicted on homeowners who invest heavily in properties later demolished. Adebayo described the practice as “economic waste,” stressing that innocent families bear the brunt of failures in regulatory oversight. Beyond financial hardship, the demolitions also contribute to housing shortages in urban centres already facing high demand.
Call for accountability beyond developers
HDAN insists that punitive action should not stop at developers. “Demolition is the punishment for the developer, but the criminal officers who aided the construction must also go down,” Adebayo stated. He argued that meaningful reform requires holding government staff accountable through dismissal, demotion, or legal sanction. Without such measures, he warned, demolitions will remain ineffective and cyclical.
Industry observers also faulted professional associations, particularly the Nigerian Institute of Town Planners (NITP), for their silence. They noted that if urban planning frameworks are being undermined by systemic corruption, professional bodies have a duty to defend their integrity and speak publicly against the practice.
Towards sustainable solutions
Adebayo reiterated that corruption within approval processes remains the primary driver of illegal construction. Unless this is addressed, stakeholders cautioned, demolitions will continue to consume scarce resources without resolving the underlying issues.
The debate underscores a broader policy challenge: how to balance urban enforcement with accountability mechanisms that discourage regulatory compromise. Until government officials complicit in the process face consequences, experts warn, Nigeria’s demolition cycle will persist undermining both investor confidence and long-term housing delivery.
