Africa faces a housing deficit of more than 50 million homes and an estimated housing finance gap of about $1.4 trillion, said Housing and Urban Development Minister Ahmed Musa Dangiwa.
Mr Dangiwa disclosed this at the 7th African Housing Awards held in Abuja, saying the housing crisis is one of the continent’s most pressing development challenges. He warned that without faster and more coordinated solutions, Africa’s housing shortage could soar in the coming years.
He said: “Some 54 million Africans currently live in urban slums, and the continent faces a housing deficit of at least 50 million units, with a housing finance gap estimated at more than $1.4 trillion.”
He added that failure to scale up solutions could make the situation worse: “Therefore, if we do not accept solutions or accelerate them, Africa’s housing deficit is projected to increase to approximately 130 million homes by 2030.”
The event recognized approximately 52 individuals, organizations and government agencies across three categories. Among those honored were the Governor of Kano State, Alhaji Aba Yusuf, Mr. Dangiwa himself, and other African leaders who were recognized for their contributions to housing and urban development.
Governor Yusuf was named the Housing and Infrastructure Friendly Governor of the Year for his policies that support the massive supply of housing and urban renewal efforts in Kano State. Mr Dangiwa also emerged as Africa’s most transformative Minister of Housing and Urban Development in 2025, for reforms focused on affordability, use of local materials and increased private sector participation.
He noted that housing lies at the intersection of economic growth, social stability, urban resilience and human dignity, and stressed that housing should no longer be treated as a peripheral sector. He commended the organizers of the Africa International Housing Show for maintaining advocacy and accountability in this area, saying the annual gathering was more than just a conference.
Dangiwa focused on Nigeria, saying the country’s housing shortage is conservatively estimated at more than 17 million units. He explained that the Federal Government was responding with a more structured and measurable approach based on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s New Hope Agenda.
He said the government had moved from piecemeal housing projects to national programs aimed at delivering results at scale. The ministry said it has started construction of more than 10,000 homes in 14 states and the Federal Capital Territory in the past two years.
He also said that through the Urban Renewal and Slum Upgrading Program, the federal government has impacted more than 150 communities across the country by providing critical infrastructure to improve living conditions.
Despite these efforts, Dangiwa stressed that no single government or country can solve the housing problem alone. He called for greater cooperation across the continent, noting that Africa’s housing crisis requires common solutions, financing models and policy coordination across borders.
Speaking at the event, the President of the Nigerian Union of Journalists (NUJ), FCT Council, Grace Ike, called for closer collaboration between journalists and stakeholders in the housing sector to improve access to adequate housing for media professionals.
Mr. Ike commended the organizer of the Africa Housing Awards and CEO of Housing Television, Attorney Festus Adebayo, for his sustained advocacy and support for journalism. She said the platform is helping expand the public conversation about affordable housing across the continent.
She also directly appealed to the Minister of Housing to fulfill his promise to establish a journalist village in the Federal Capital Territory. Mr. Ike urged that the project be completed by 2026 with the support of the Federal Mortgage Bank of Nigeria.
“That promise ignited a dream across our newsroom. Now we are making a passionate plea not to abandon us. Our dream is for your promise to come true in 2026. With the help of the Mortgage Bank, this village can rise up and give journalists a stable home where they can focus on ethical reporting and peacebuilding,” she said.
Also receiving the 2025 Minister of Housing Award, James Sankwasa, Minister of Urban and Rural Development of Namibia, said Africa has reached a stage where its development efforts must be recognized and celebrated.
Festus Adebayo, the award’s organizer, said the housing and construction sector remains a key driver of economic growth, job creation and national development across Africa.
According to him, “This is why we took the decision seven years ago to organize this African Housing Awards ceremony to recognize and thank the contributions of deserving individuals and organizations who have contributed to the development of this sector, which attracts participants from across Africa.”
He added that the housing sector is evolving amid new technologies, changing regulations, global economic pressures and environmental issues that continue to shape the way the industry operates.
Mr. Adebayo further said, “Even if you are an award winner, we will not hesitate to expose any wrongdoing that has given this industry a bad name. We 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 put in place such as we have in Dubai.”
