In Pursuit of Reliable Housing Data: Dangiwa’s Action Plan Unveiled

Ahmed Dangiwa, Nigeria’s Minister for Housing and Urban Development, has expressed deep concern over the absence of credible data on housing conditions and the state of towns and communities in the country. With nearly three decades of experience in the housing sector, Dangiwa emphasizes that this data gap poses a significant hindrance to effective planning, budgeting, and investment in the sector.

The minister is troubled by the longstanding discrepancy in estimates of Nigeria’s housing deficit, which has ranged from 17 million to now approximately 28 million units, without substantial evidence to support these figures. Addressing this issue is a top priority for Dangiwa, and he intends to establish a robust policy, research, and statistics framework within the ministry to vigilantly monitor developments in the country’s housing landscape.

Dangiwa plans to collaborate with data consultants on conducting the first government-sponsored nationwide housing survey, aimed at scientifically determining the actual housing shortage in Nigeria. He emphasizes that it is the government’s responsibility to lead this effort, rather than relying on extrapolations from foreign bodies and institutions.

Creating a knowledge base within the ministry will be a paramount objective for Dangiwa, with the goal of institutionalizing data collation practices. He also intends to work closely with the National Population Commission (NPC) to leverage the next nationwide census for gathering housing-related data.

Regarding the 1978 Land Use Act, which many stakeholders believe hampers housing sector growth, Dangiwa assures that he will collaborate closely with the National Assembly to facilitate its review. He recognizes land as a fundamental requirement for sustainable housing delivery and acknowledges challenges associated with land acquisition, including availability, accessibility, ownership rights, security of tenure, and the absence of land use plans.

Dangiwa laments that the Act, originally designed to streamline land availability for development, has inadvertently constrained housing delivery since its inclusion in the Constitution. He points out other issues, including its inflexibility, vesting of lands in states’ governors, and cumbersome procedures for obtaining various certificates related to land use.

Due to these reasons, the Act’s objectives have not been fully realized since its enactment in 1978, according to the minister. He is committed to addressing these challenges to pave the way for a more vibrant and effective housing sector in Nigeria.