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…as HDAN calls for strict regulation of housing sector
Africa faces a housing deficit of more than 50 million homes, with an estimated $1.4 trillion housing finance gap, Housing and Urban Development Minister Ahmed Dangiwa has warned.
If solutions are not accelerated, the continent’s housing deficit could reach around 130 million units by 2030, Dangiwa revealed at the 7th Africa Housing Awards in Abuja. The awards recognized around 52 individuals, organizations and government institutions in three categories, including the Governor of Kano State, Alhaji Aba Yusuf and other African leaders.
Dangiwa, who emerged as Africa’s most innovative Housing and Urban Development Minister in 2025 with reforms targeting affordability, local materials and private sector participation, said today that approximately 54 million Africans live in urban slums, the continent faces a housing deficit of at least 50 million units, and its housing finance gap is estimated to be around $1.4 trillion or more.
“Therefore, if solutions are not accepted or solutions are not accelerated, Africa’s housing deficit is expected to increase to approximately 130 million units by 2030,” the minister said, noting that housing can no longer be treated as a peripheral sector.
He emphasized that housing lies at the intersection of economic growth, social stability, urban resilience and human dignity.
The minister added that the federal government, under President Bola Tinubu’s New Hope Agenda, is moving from fragmented housing projects to structured national programs focused on measurable delivery. He said Nigeria’s housing shortage is conservatively estimated at more than 17 million units, but noted that the federal government is addressing it with scale and institutions.
Mr Dangiwa revealed that in the past two years, the ministry had started construction of over 10,000 houses in 14 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT). He added that through the Urban Renewal and Slum Upgrading Program, the government has provided critical infrastructure to more than 150 communities across the country.
However, the minister stressed that no single government or country could tackle the housing issue alone and called for a continental approach. He commended the organizers of the Africa International Housing Show for maintaining advocacy and accountability in this area, saying the annual event is more than just a conference.
Meanwhile, Mr. Barr, the organizer of the 7th African Housing Awards, declared that Mr. Festus Adebayo has zero tolerance for fraudsters in the housing and construction industry and vowed to crack down on wrongdoings among awardees as well.
Mr Adebayo said that as the housing and construction sector remains a key driver of growth, job creation and national development, there must be zero tolerance for fraudsters in the sector, working with the National Assembly, the Federal Capital Territory, the Federal Ministry of Housing, the Lagos State Government and other regulators to ensure that appropriate regulations are in place, such as those available in Dubai.
Speaking at the event, he said the housing crisis remains one of Africa’s most pressing development challenges, explaining that the decision to create the Africa Housing Awards ceremony seven years ago was to recognize and recognize the contributions of deserving individuals and organizations who have contributed to the development of the sector, which attracts participants from across Africa.
He said the housing sector is evolving as new technologies, regulatory changes, global economic pressures and environmental issues continue to impact the way stakeholders work.
“We at HDAN strive for excellence and have zero tolerance for any form of unethical behavior in this sector and will continue to monitor the activities of all stakeholders to ensure professionalism in service delivery and ensure that fraudsters and fraudsters taking advantage of innocent members of the public are removed from this sector,” he added.
“Even if you are an award winner, we will not hesitate to expose the wrongdoing that has given this industry a bad name,” he revealed.
The CEO Housing TV show also revealed that stakeholders are working with the National Assembly, the Federal Capital Territory, the Federal Ministry of Housing, the Lagos State Government and other regulatory bodies to ensure that appropriate regulations are in place, such as those available in Dubai.
Speaking at the event, Namibia’s Minister of Urban and Rural Development, James Sankwasa, who won the 2025 Minister of Housing Award for Kano’s “Housing and Infrastructure Friendly Governor of the Year” for his policies supporting mass housing delivery and urban renewal initiatives, said Africa has reached a stage where its development efforts must be recognized and celebrated.
The event was attended by dignitaries from the building industry, the Minister of Housing from Namibia, a delegation from Gambia, a delegation from Ghana, a delegation from Kenya and all stakeholders from far and wide Nigeria.
In her speech, the Chairperson of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), FCT Council, Grace Ike, called for greater collaboration between journalists and stakeholders in the housing sector to improve access to adequate housing for media professionals. Ike commended the organizer of the African Housing Awards and CEO of Housing TV, Barrister Festus Adebayo, for his consistent advocacy and support for journalism, saying the platform has amplified the public debate on affordable housing.
“That promise to provide housing ignited a dream across newsrooms. Now we are making a passionate plea not to abandon us. Our dream is to see your promise come true in 2026. With the help of the Mortgage Bank, this village can stand up to give journalists stable housing and focus on ethical reporting and peacebuilding,” she said.
