Millions of hardworking Africans excluded from formal housing systems ­—Experts

Millions of hardworking Africans – including teachers, artisans, traders, farmers, transport workers, market women, security personnel, youths and countless others – remain excluded from formal housing systems, CEO at the African International Housing Show, Festus Adebayo, has said.

For these categories of people, said homeownership remains beyond their reach.

According to him, no single institution can solve Africa’s housing challenge alone.

“But together, we can build an Africa where decent housing is affordable, accessible and sustainable for all,” he said.

He noted that Africa deserved a platform entirely dedicated to finding practical solutions to its housing challenges.

Adebayo, along with other experts, expressed this view, while listing some of the challenges confronting mass production of affordable housing units for the low-income group during the 20th edition of AIHS in Abuja.

Other speakers are a lecturer in the Department of Estate Management, University of Lagos, Professor Gbenga Nubi, and his counterpart in Rivers State University, Port Harcourt, Professor Iyenemi I. Kakulu; and lawyer and rights activist, Mr. Femi Falana (SAN).

Other built environment experts stated that the prevailing factors that affect the execution of affordable housing delivery need strategic overhauling aimed at solving the identified impediments to give hope to future prospective homeowners/off-takers in Africa.

They argued that most housing policies are not helping the citizens for not taking into consideration low-income earners and other groups.

They said that housing delivery should be based on income, adding that building inclusive cities is the best approach.

Professor Nubi said land acquisition and other components like costs of construction and building materials form part of the problem for Nigerians.

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In most cases, he said the government puts the cart before the horse in their housing delivery.

He pointed out that inclusivity is the answer to site and service, adding that this can be unbundled.

According to him, most people all over African do not build to live, but now buying houses and acquiring plots to sell in future.

Professor Kakulu noted that many people were unable to obtain secure land titles, access mortgage finance, or navigate the complexities associated with land acquisition and documentation.

“Consequently, the homeownership remains beyond the reach of many hardworking citizens. The land issue is the problem of the people, and so it is in building houses in Nigeria and Africa in general,” Kakulu remarked.

Falana pointed out that site and service were being taken from the poor and vulnerable group.

He stressed that every individual is entitled to a home, pointing out that it’s the responsibility of the government to provide housing for the citizens.

“Alhaji Lateef Jakande was able to construct 40,000 housing units within four years,” he said.

Minister of Housing and Urban Development, Mattaqha Rabe Darma said that it has become imperative for Nigeria to reposition land administration as a strategic instrument for delivering affordable housing.

By simplifying land administration processes, reducing the cost of land transactions, strengthening tenure security, and embracing digital technologies, the minister said it would be possible to significantly lower the cost of housing delivery while expanding access to finance and encouraging private sector investment.

He emphasised that the future of mass housing in Africa depends not only on the number of houses built but the collective ability to make land accessible, secure, affordable, and productive for all homeownership seekers