Nigeria’s housing deficit reaches 14.925 million units, highlighting urgent need for data-driven housing policies and investment

The National Housing Data Technical Committee has pegged Nigeria’s housing deficit for 2025 at 14.925 million units, highlighting the scale of the country’s housing challenge and the urgent need for data-driven interventions.

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The data was presented by Dr. Taofeek Olatinwo, Chairman of the Committee and Director at the Nigeria Mortgage Refinance Company (NMRC), during a technical session at the 14th National Council on Lands, Housing and Urban Development in Abuja.

Previous industry estimates had placed the deficit at over 20 million units.

According to Dr. Olatinwo, the latest figures were derived from multiple validated sources, including national household surveys, population and housing census data, and housing adequacy indices based on international best practice frameworks.

He stressed that accurate measurement of the deficit is essential for government, lenders, developers, and investors to plan effectively and implement sustainable interventions.

“Housing supply gaps are driven by rapid population growth, urbanisation pressures, limited access to long-term finance, land and title constraints, and inadequate housing across regions,” Dr. Olatinwo explained.

Housing Minister Ahmed Musa Dangiwa commended the Committee for providing reliable, centralised housing data.

“One of the biggest gaps in our sector has been the absence of actionable housing data. Without it, planning becomes guesswork, investment speculative, and tracking progress difficult,” Minister Dangiwa said.

The Committee, inaugurated by the Federal Ministry of Housing and Urban Development, operates in collaboration with the National Bureau of Statistics, National Population Commission, Central Bank of Nigeria, Federal Mortgage Bank, Federal Housing Authority, and other key sector stakeholders.

It is leading efforts to establish the National Housing Data Centre, a centralised platform for aggregating and disseminating housing and mortgage market information to support policy formulation and delivery planning.

The new deficit figures reaffirm the scale of Nigeria’s housing challenge and strengthen the case for coordinated reforms in land administration, housing supply, infrastructure, and mortgage finance expansion.

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The National Council on Lands, Housing and Urban Development serves as the highest intergovernmental forum for housing and urban policy, bringing together federal and state governments to deliberate on sector priorities, reforms, and implementation strategies.