The Federal Government Sets December 2025 Deadline for National Housing Data Centre Launch
The Federal Government has announced plans to make the National Housing Data Centre (NHDC) operational by December 2025, marking a significant step toward institutionalising evidence-based policymaking in Nigeria’s housing and real estate sectors.
Coordinated by the Federal Ministry of Housing and Urban Development (FMHUD), the NHDC aims to harmonise housing statistics nationwide, track progress in addressing the country’s housing deficit, and provide accurate data for investment and policy decisions.
According to Dr. Taofeeq Olatinwo, Chairman of the Technical Committee on the National Housing Data Programme (NHDP), the centre will function as a federated data system, enabling states, ministries, departments, and agencies (MDAs) to feed into a centralized platform.
“The target is for the NHDC to go live in December 2025,” Olatinwo said. “It will have inputs from states, MDAs, and private developers at defined intervals, in line with global standards.”
He explained that the NHDC would allow both state-level analysis and national coordination, helping policymakers identify gaps in housing supply, affordability patterns, and urban growth trends.
Global Partnerships to Strengthen Credibility
To align with international benchmarks, the Federal Government is developing the NHDC in collaboration with key global partners, including the World Bank, African Union for Housing Finance (AUHF), Centre for Affordable Housing Finance in Africa (CAHF), and HOFINET.
These organizations are providing technical support on data standardization, validation, and quality control, a move expected to enhance the reliability of Nigeria’s housing statistics and improve transparency in reporting.
Olatinwo noted that the centre will capture critical indicators such as housing stock, new developments, demolitions, conversions, and occupancy rates, providing an accurate and dynamic picture of Nigeria’s housing situation.
Public Access and Institutional Integration
Unlike past government data efforts that were siloed within agencies, the NHDC will be publicly accessible through an online dashboard integrated with the existing Housing Market Information Portal (HMIP) hosted by the Nigeria Mortgage Refinance Company (NMRC).
The platform will also consolidate inputs from the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS), National Population Commission (NPC), Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), and other key institutions.
As part of the preparatory phase, six pilot states were engaged in July 2025 to test data collection and coordination frameworks, forming the basis for a nationwide rollout.
Building a Sustainable Data Ecosystem
The NHDC project is supported by a joint inter-agency committee comprising representatives from FMHUD, NMRC, NBS, NPC, CBN, Federal Mortgage Bank of Nigeria (FMBN), Federal Housing Authority (FHA), Family Homes Funds Limited (FHFL), and the Real Estate Developers Association of Nigeria (REDAN).
This committee is tasked with finalizing the technical architecture, legal framework, and data-sharing model to ensure interoperability across federal and state systems. The long-term plan envisions transitioning the NHDC into a Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV) that operates on a self-sustaining business model, ensuring continuity and financial independence.
Driving Evidence-Based Policy and Investment Decisions
Olatinwo emphasised that the NHDC will help government agencies and investors move from assumption-based to data-driven planning. “Reliable data is the foundation for sound housing policy,” he said. “This initiative will allow Nigeria to measure its housing deficit accurately, target interventions effectively, and attract private sector participation with confidence.”
He acknowledged ongoing challenges, including funding constraints and the need for capacity building at state and local levels, but expressed optimism that the NHDC would serve as a “game-changer” for the nation’s housing sector.
Conclusion: Strengthening the Foundation for Housing Reform
The establishment of the National Housing Data Centre reflects a critical reform milestone under the Renewed Hope Agenda, signalling the Federal Government’s commitment to transparency, accountability, and modernized housing governance.
Once operational, the NHDC is expected to enhance investor confidence, improve public sector coordination, and set a new standard for housing data management across sub-Saharan Africa.
