LAGOS/Nigeria: Stakeholders in Nigeria’s built environment have called for stronger public-private partnerships, sustainable construction methods and stricter enforcement of building regulations as part of efforts to address the country’s housing challenges.
The call was made on Wednesday, November 4, 2026, at the 2026 Annual Lecture and Awards of the Property and Environment Writers’ Association of Nigeria (PEWAN), held at NECA House Conference Hall, Alausa, Ikeja, Lagos.
The event, themed “Reimagining Housing in Nigeria: Sustainability, Facility Management and Innovative Building Materials,” brought together property developers, government representatives and professionals to examine ways of improving housing delivery, construction standards and the management of residential estates.
Delivering the guest lecture, Chairman of Q-Shelter Nigeria Limited, Mr. Niyi Oyedele, said private-sector participation in housing development should extend beyond constructing and selling buildings to ensuring that homeowners receive adequate support throughout the period they occupy their properties.
He identified transparent pricing, proper documentation, realistic payment arrangements and reliable property management as important factors in making home ownership accessible and sustainable.
Oyedele argued that the availability of houses alone would not resolve Nigeria’s housing difficulties if prospective buyers could not afford them or lacked confidence in the delivery and management of the properties.
He called for closer coordination among government institutions, property developers, financial institutions and prospective homeowners, noting that government could provide land, policy direction and access to housing finance, while private investors contributed capital, technology and construction expertise.
The Q-Shelter chairman also emphasised that housing affordability should be assessed beyond the initial purchase price to include the long-term cost of maintaining buildings and residential estates.
He advocated sustainable funding arrangements and clearly defined maintenance responsibilities to ensure that housing estates remained functional after developers had handed them over to residents.
Also speaking, the General Manager of the Lagos State Building Control Agency (LASBCA), Mrs. Florence Gbaye, stressed the importance of regulatory compliance in preventing building failures and protecting lives and property.
Gbaye, who received a recognition award at the event, urged developers to obtain approved building plans before construction and engage qualified professionals in their projects.
She maintained that construction activities must conform to approved designs, specifications and applicable building regulations, adding that compliance was essential to structural safety and the protection of investments.
The LASBCA general manager called on property developers, building professionals, residents and the media to support public awareness of building regulations.
She also urged residents to report buildings being constructed without the required approvals and distressed structures that could endanger lives.
Earlier, PEWAN Chairman, Mrs. Okwy Iroegbu-Chikezie, identified affordability as one of the major obstacles confronting Nigerians seeking decent accommodation.
She attributed the pressure in the housing sector to rising construction costs, inflation, increasing land prices and higher rents, particularly in urban centres.
According to her, the widening gap between household incomes and housing costs has made decent accommodation increasingly difficult for many Nigerians.
Iroegbu-Chikezie said addressing the country’s housing challenge required more than increasing the number of buildings, stressing the need for better urban planning, sustainable construction methods, innovative financing and policies that would improve access for low- and middle-income earners.
She also maintained that housing should be viewed beyond the provision of shelter, describing it as an important foundation for human dignity, economic opportunities, environmental responsibility and improved living conditions.
A housing deficit figure of approximately 14.925 million units, based on 2025 data from the National Housing Data Technical Committee, was also cited during the event, underscoring the scale of the country’s housing challenge.
The discussions highlighted the need for a more comprehensive approach to housing delivery, with attention to affordability, building safety, access to infrastructure and effective management of residential communities.
