Mr. Barr, host of the 7th Africa Housing Awards. Festus Adebayo said there must be zero tolerance for fraudsters as the housing and construction sector remains a key driver of growth, job creation and national development.
Adebayo then said the organization is working with the National Assembly, the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), the Federal Ministry of Housing, the Lagos State Government and other regulatory authorities to ensure that appropriate regulations are put in place, similar to what is available in Dubai.
The Chairman, who disclosed this at the 7th African Housing Awards held in Abuja, said the housing crisis remained one of Africa’s most pressing development challenges.
He said: “We decided to hold this African Housing Awards ceremony seven years ago 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 said: “The housing sector is evolving, with new technologies, regulatory changes, global economic pressures and environmental issues continuing to impact the way we work.
“It is important to recognize these changes early, monitor industry trends, and be positioned to respond quickly and strategically.”
He further added, “We at HDAN strive for excellence and have zero tolerance for any unethical behavior in this sector and will continue to monitor the activities of all stakeholders to ensure professionalism in service delivery and to ensure that fraudsters and fraudsters taking advantage of the innocent public are removed from this sector.”
“Even if you are an award winner, we will not hesitate to expose the wrongdoings that have given this industry a bad name,” he revealed.
The CEO Housing TV show also revealed that stakeholders are working with the National Assembly, the FCT, 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.
At the event, some 52 individuals, organizations and government agencies were honored across three categories, including the Governor of Kano State, Alhaji Aba Yusuf, the Minister of Housing and Urban Development, Alhaji Ahmed Dangiwa, and other African leaders.
According to the Minister of Housing and Urban Development, Arc. Africa’s Ahmed Dangiwa is suffering from an estimated housing finance gap of $1.4 trillion and a shortage of more than 50 million homes.
Kano State Governor was named Housing and Infrastructure Friendly Governor of the Year for his policies supporting mass housing supply and urban renewal efforts, while Dangiwa has emerged as Africa’s most transformative Housing and Urban Development Minister of 2025, with reforms targeting affordability, locally sourced materials, and private sector participation.
The minister warned that the continent’s housing shortage could rise to around 130 million homes by 2030 if solutions are not accelerated.
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.
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.”
“Therefore, if you do not accept solutions or do not accelerate solutions, Africa’s housing shortage is projected to increase to approximately 130 million homes by 2030.”
He noted that housing can no longer be treated as a peripheral sector, stressing that housing lies at the intersection of economic growth, social stability, urban resilience and human dignity.
Mr Dangiwa commended the organizers of the Africa International Housing Show for maintaining advocacy and accountability in the sector, saying the annual event was more than just a conference.
Turning to Nigeria, the Minister said the Federal Government, under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s New Hope Agenda, had adopted a transition from fragmented housing projects to structured national programs focused on measurable delivery.
Mr Dangiwa disclosed that in the past two years, the ministry had started construction of over 10,000 houses in 14 states and the 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.
Namibia’s Minister of Urban and Rural Development, James Sankwasa, who received the 2025 Minister of Housing Award, said Africa has reached a stage where its development efforts must be recognized and celebrated.
The event was attended by senior officials from the building industry, Namibia’s Minister of Housing, a Gambian delegation, a Ghanaian delegation, a Kenyan delegation, as well as all stakeholders from far and near Nigeria.
