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From Isaac Anumihe, Adline Elechi, Abuja
Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Housing and Urban Development, Dr Shuaib Belgore, has stated that stronger mortgage financing, improved land administration and more effective institutions will accelerate the delivery of affordable and inclusive housing across Nigeria.
Belgore spoke while presiding over the meeting of the body of permanent secretaries from the 36 states of the federation and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Executive Secretary responsible for housing, at the ongoing 15th Meeting of the National Council on Lands, Housing and Urban Development (NCLHUD), holding in Sokoto State.
The Permanent Secretary in the Housing Ministry is the Chairman of the body of permanent secretaries responsible for housing and urban development matters.
Meanwhile, the theme for the 15th Meeting is: “Strengthening Mortgage, Land and Institutional Systems for Accelerated and Inclusive Housing Delivery.”
Belgore described the National Council as a critical platform for policy dialogue, co-ordination and collaboration between the federal and state governments, providing an opportunity to examine challenges in the housing sector, review existing policies and programmes, and develop practical solutions for implementation across the country.
He identified access to finance, availability of land and institutional effectiveness as the three major pillars required to improve housing delivery in Nigeria.
On mortgage financing, Belgore stressed the need for a mortgage system that responds to the realities of Nigerians, particularly low- and middle-income earners.
He noted that accessible and attractive mortgage options would encourage greater demand and expand opportunities for homeownership.
While emphasising the importance of accessible land, effective planning and efficient land administration, he noted that sustainable housing development would remain difficult without adequate access to properly planned land.
Accordingly, he said that stronger collaboration between the federal and state governments is essential to resolving land-related challenges, particularly as state governments play a significant role in land administration and the provision of land for housing development.
The Permanent Secretary further called for stronger institutions at both federal and sub-national levels to ensure that policies translate into effective programmes and measurable results.
He explained that institutional strengthening should include improved technical capacity, better inter-agency co-ordination, greater use of data and digital systems, efficient regulatory processes and stronger accountability mechanisms.
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In a statement, Belgore also advocated an inclusive housing delivery system that recognises Nigeria’s socio-economic diversity, including differences in income, age and social status, as well as the geographical distribution of housing and the availability of supporting infrastructure.
He acknowledged that, despite several efforts over the years to provide decent and affordable homes for Nigerians, significant challenges continue to hinder progress in the sector.
These challenges, he said, include inadequate access to secure land, high construction costs, limited housing finance, bureaucratic bottlenecks, expensive land registration and titling processes, inconsistent policies and implementation between the federal and state governments, and issues relating to ownership rights under the Land Use Act.
Belgore assured participants that the Federal Government would continue to refine its policies and programmes to create an enabling environment for greater private-sector participation in housing delivery, as the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu recognises the housing challenges confronting Nigerians, as reflected in the Renewed Hope Agenda, which places housing at the centre of its development priorities.
Furthermore, he said that housing finance must be affordable, accessible and responsive to the varying needs and income levels of Nigerians, stressing that institutions responsible for land administration, physical planning, development control, housing delivery, regulation and financing must be adequately equipped to discharge their responsibilities effectively.
“The success of the council would not be determined by discussions alone, but by the quality of decisions reached and the extent to which the recommendations are translated into practical action,” he added.
The Permanent Secretary explained that the meeting of permanent secretaries serves as a vital link between the technical deliberations of the thematic groups and the policy-level discussions involving commissioners and ministers.
Consequently, he urged the permanent secretaries to carefully examine the reports submitted by the thematic groups, harmonise recommendations, resolve inconsistencies and ensure that the proposed measures are realistic, actionable and consistent with the responsibilities of the various levels of government.
Earlier, the Sokoto State Commissioner for Lands, Housing, Survey and Town Planning, Barrister Nasiru Dantsoho, had said that the gathering was not only about strengthening mortgage, land and institutional systems for accelerated and inclusive housing delivery, but also about developing practical and sustainable policies that would improve the living conditions of Nigerians.
He emphasised the need for policies that address the housing needs of all segments of society, particularly low-income earners and farmers, who often face significant challenges in accessing affordable housing and land ownership. He noted that strengthening institutional frameworks and improving access to mortgage facilities were essential to achieving inclusive housing delivery and ensuring that more Nigerians could own decent and affordable homes.
In a presentation, the Chief Technical Adviser and Head of the UN-Habitat Nigeria Country Office, Nina Rinne, emphasised that effective land-use planning and strategic investment are essential for sustainable housing and urban development. She noted that poor planning increases infrastructure costs and exposes communities to environmental risks, stressing that planning should be viewed as an investment rather than an additional cost.
She further stated that housing is a continuous process, not merely a finished product, and that development decisions must consider long-term needs. Given Nigeria’s rapidly growing population and limited land resources, she called for strategic land management that balances urban development with environmental protection and agricultural production to safeguard food security. She stressed the need to determine where and how land should be developed or protected to promote sustainable and inclusive urban growth.
