Building houses shouldn’t cost a fortune. The Federal Government says it’s moving to cut Nigeria’s rising housing costs by boosting local production of building materials through new manufacturing hubs across the country.
Speaking at the 14th National Council on Lands, Housing and Urban Development in Ilorin, the ministry’s Permanent Secretary, Dr Shuaib Belgore, said the hubs will lower construction costs, speed up project delivery and create jobs, while strengthening Nigeria’s industrial base.
Belgore stressed that land management is the backbone of housing development, noting that land only becomes valuable when it is properly titled, registered and digitised. According to him, secure land documentation unlocks access to finance, attracts investment and drives wealth creation.
He also highlighted urban renewal as key to better living conditions and efficient land use, while describing Public–Private Partnerships (PPPs) as unavoidable, given pressure on government funds.
“Housing is more than shelter,” Belgore said, describing it as a driver of economic stability, productivity and social wellbeing. He identified major obstacles worsening Nigeria’s housing deficit, including high building material costs, weak land documentation, limited mortgage access and shortages of skilled artisans.
At the same event, Kwara State Housing Commissioner, Dr Segun Ogunshola, said the state is pushing ahead with solutions, including the 20,000-unit Kwara Smart City project, designed to deliver a modern, livable mega city.
The council meeting brings federal and state actors together to align policies, drive reforms and promote sustainable urban development nationwide.
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