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Tag: HDAN

  • HDAN urges minister to stop destruction of Abuja masterplan

    HDAN urges minister to stop destruction of Abuja masterplan

    The Housing Development Advocacy Network (HDAN) has raised serious concern over the worsening conversion of designated green areas to residential developments in Abuja, warning that the practice violates existing planning laws and undermines the Abuja masterplan.

    In a statement issued by the Executive Director of HDAN, Festus Adebayo, said the continued encroachment on green zones represents a direct breach of Nigeria’s urban planning and environmental laws, and a dangerous precedent for the nation’s capital.

    “Green areas are legally protected components of the Abuja Masterplan. Converting them for residential use is not only environmentally reckless, it is unlawful,” Adebayo stated.

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    HDAN boss cited the following laws and policies as the legal basis for its position namely: the urban and Regional Planning Act (Cap U2, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2004), noting that the Act provides for the preparation, implementation, and enforcement of physical development plans.

    This is just as the Act prohibits developments that are inconsistent with approved master plans, including the conversion of designated green and open spaces without due process.

    “The masterplan legally defines land-use zoning within the Federal Capital Territory, including green belts, parks, buffer zones, and conservation areas.”

    Besides, HDAN boss noted that many developments on green areas proceed without publicly disclosed EIAs, in violation of the law.

    “The law is clear. The Abuja Masterplan is not a suggestion—it is a binding framework. Once green areas are destroyed, the damage is permanent and irreversible,” Adebayo advised.

    HDAN reaffirmed its readiness to work with government institutions, professional bodies, and civil society to ensure lawful, sustainable, and people-centred urban development in Abuja.

  • HDAN urged conversion of 750 seized houses for social project

    HDAN urged conversion of 750 seized houses for social project

    The Housing Development Advocacy Network (HDAN) has called on the Federal Government to convert the recently seized housing estate visited by the Minister of Housing and Urban Development,  Ahmed Dangiwa, and the Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Ola Olukoyede, into a model social housing project dedicated to affordable rental housing.

    In a statement released by the Executive Director of HDAN, Festus Adebayo, the organization urged that the seized property reportedly consisting of high-value villas should not be sold to the highest bidders, but rather restructured and retained under public ownership for the benefit of Nigeria’s most disadvantaged population, particularly young people and low-income families.

    “This is a golden opportunity to turn a seized asset into a national solution. We are proposing that the estate be remodeled into 1- and 2-bedroom units and allocated for heavily subsidized rental to Nigerians through a transparent and equitable process,” Adebayo said.

    According to HDAN’s proposal, the properties should be allocated via a digital raffle draw. Interested participants would purchase a maximum of two online raffle tickets linked to their Bank Verification Number (BVN), priced at N10,000 per ticket. The draw would be conducted publicly, with the Honourable Minister personally rolling the raffle ball. Winners would be notified automatically via SMS and subsequently required to sign tenancy agreements with the estate’s managing agency before moving in.

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    Adebayo explained that the proceeds from the raffle sales could generate as much as N10 billion if one million Nigerians participate, which would be sufficient to fund the remodeling and completion of the estate.

    “This makes it a self-financing social housing initiative eliminating the usual challenge of financial viability associated with rental housing,” he added.

    The advocacy group recommends that the Federal Housing Authority (FHA) be designated as the manager of the estate, which should be preserved as a long-term social housing project. Rents, they suggest, should be set at approximately 50 per cent or less of current market rates, with the goal of ensuring affordability while generating enough income for estate maintenance and management.

    Adebayo suggested that it should be targeted at the younger population because they represent the most disadvantaged segment of the population in terms of access to decent housing. This is an opportunity to not only address an urgent housing need but also restore trust in government-led housing initiatives.”

    He emphasized that the focus on rental housing is strategic and long overdue. “We need to start building a portfolio of well-managed, publicly owned social rental housing. This project presents a zero-cost entry point for the government to do just that.”

    HDAN believes the converted estate could deliver up to 2,000 rental units, a significant addition to Nigeria’s critically undersupplied affordable housing stock. Moreover, it sends a strong message that seized public assets can be repurposed for the collective good, rather than recycled into private hands.

    “This approach not only ensures fairness, transparency, and efficiency,” Adebayo concluded, “but it also sets a precedent for how we handle recovered assets going forward, turning lost wealth into social dividends.”

    HDAN has called on the Federal Ministry of Housing and Urban Development, EFCC, FHA, and other stakeholders to give serious consideration to this model, describing it as a landmark opportunity to institutionalize social housing in Nigeria.

  • HDAN woos investors into Nigerian, African real estate sector with continent’s largest exhibition

    HDAN woos investors into Nigerian, African real estate sector with continent’s largest exhibition

    Local and foreign investors have been urged to seize opportunities in Nigeria’s real estate sector, which is contributing significantly to economic diversification and boosting the nation’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP).

    The Executive Director of the Housing Development Advocacy Network (HDAN), Festus Adebayo, said the call became imperative in light of recent industry data showing that Nigeria’s real estate sector contributed 5.2% to the nation’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) in 2024, underscoring its critical role in driving economic growth.

    In a statement over the weekend, he noted that with Nigeria’s housing deficit exceeding 22 million units—and similar shortfalls in countries such as Kenya, Ghana, Uganda, and Liberia, HDAN is compelled to make the bold call for investors to explore the vast opportunities within the sector with the the Africa International Housing Show (AIHS)

    According to him, the AIHS is being organised by HDAN to highlight the sector’s vast potential and showcase untapped opportunities in Nigeria and across the African continent.

    He said the 19th edition of the show, tagged Africa’s biggest platform for housing, construction, and urban development and scheduled to take place from July 27th to August 1st, 2025 in Abuja aims to position the continent’s real estate market as a viable investment destination amid increasing demand for affordable housing, infrastructure growth, and policy reforms across Africa.

    Adebayo, who is also the Coordinator of AIHS, noted that the 2025 edition of the event, will serve as a powerful convergence point for investors, developers, government agencies, financial institutions, and policy leaders from across the globe.

    Emphasising that real estate remains one of the most resilient and scalable sectors on the continent, he said, “We are inviting serious investors from within and outside Africa to explore the vast potential in the real estate and construction sector.

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    “With housing contributing significantly to Nigeria’s GDP and urban population expanding rapidly, now is the time to build the right partnerships.”

    Themed ‘Reimagining Housing Challenges into Opportunities: Through Innovation, Collaboration, and Policy’, the event will feature over 400 exhibitors showcasing cutting-edge housing and construction products, innovative building technologies, mortgage and finance strategies and locally sourced construction materials.

    The event is expected to attract more than 40,000 participants from over 26 countries, creating a truly global platform for dialogue and collaboration, while over five African Ministers of Housing have so far confirmed their participation.

    It will also feature dedicated sessions on key issues such as Diaspora Housing, Affordable Housing Finance, Climate-Resilient Development, Women in Real Estate and Public-Private Partnerships, including high-level engagements with delegations from ministries, multilateral organizations including Shelter Afrique, the World Bank, and IFC as well as top-tier property developers and investors from across Africa, Dubai, India and beyond.

    Supported by the Arc. Ahmed Dangiwa-led Nigeria’s Federal Ministry of Housing and Urban Development, the show will also host a special investment forum focusing on unlocking funding for large-scale residential, affordable, and mixed-use developments across the continent.

    “Africa cannot continue to import all its building solutions. This is the time to promote local content, attract Foreign Direct Investment, and bridge the infrastructure gap with action. AIHS is providing the platform.

    “With rising investor interest from the Middle East, Europe, and Asia, AIHS 2025 is expected to drive multi-million-dollar conversations on real estate development, funding structures, land reform, and sustainable construction”, Adebayo added.

  • HDAN seeks urgent action over housing affordability crisis

    HDAN seeks urgent action over housing affordability crisis

    The Housing Development Advocacy Network (HDAN) has advocated for government intervention to address the growing housing affordability crisis in the nation. 

    It said the issue has made homeownership a distant dream for many Nigerians.

    Over the past few years, the housing market in Nigeria has become increasingly unforgiving. In Lagos and Abuja, two of the country’s most expensive cities, the cost of housing has jumped dramatically. 

    A one-bedroom apartment can now cost upwards of ₦25 million, a price unattainable for the majority of Nigerians.

    Even with the recent increase in the minimum wage to ₦70,000, the United Nations guideline that individuals should not spend more than 30 percent of their income on housing is virtually impossible to meet. 

    For someone earning ₦100,000 per month, this would translate to ₦30,000 for housing—a figure that is far below the actual costs. 

    “These figures have essentially erased the hope of the average Nigerian,” said HDAN  Executive Director, Festus Adebayo, 

     “The dream of owning a home has become a nightmare for many, as they are forced to grapple with a market that is simply out of their reach.”

    Several factors have also contributed to the housing affordability crisis in Nigeria, including inflation, the high cost of building materials, poor exchange rates, and high interest rates. 

    Inflation in Nigeria has been persistently high, with the rate decreasing slightly to 33.40 percent in July 2024 from 34.19 percent in June 2024. 

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    This has had a cascading effect on the cost of living, with housing being one of the most affected sectors. 

    “The cost of building materials has surged, making it increasingly expensive to construct new homes,” explained Adebayo. “Coupled with a poor exchange rate and high interest rates, the situation has become untenable for both developers and potential homeowners,” he adee. 

    The economic pressures have driven up the cost of existing homes and made it difficult for new projects to come to fruition, further exacerbating the shortage of affordable housing. 

    The result is a market where demand far outstrips supply, driving prices even higher.And even where there is supply it is only for the luxury houses meant for the very high income earners.They are not supplying for the demand is saying due to various challenges facing the sector.

    One of the key solutions to the housing crisis, according to HDAN, is the introduction of housing subsidies. 

    However, there appears to be no immediate plan from the government to implement such measures. If the current trends continue, HDAN warned that up to 70 percent of workers’ income could soon be spent solely on food, leaving little to cover other essential expenses such as rent and children’s school fees.

    “The absence of housing subsidies is a glaring gap in the government’s approach to this crisis,” Adebayo said. 

    “Without intervention, the situation will only worsen, putting even more strain on Nigerian families.”

    HDAN called on President Bola Tinubu to intervene urgently in the area of social housing. 

     While the government has announced plans for renewed hope housing – cities and estates projects, HDAN warned that these efforts may not adequately address the needs of those who are most affected by the crisis.

    The organization commended the efforts of  Minister of Housing and Urban Development,  Ahmed Dangiwa over the past year, noting that his understanding of the sector is crucial at this time. 

    “President Tinubu has an opportunity to make a significant impact by addressing the housing affordability crisis head-on,” said Adebayo. 

    “Around the world, provisions are made for the poor, and Nigeria should be no different. We need subsidies, tax rebates, and infrastructure support to make housing more affordable for all Nigerians.” 

    He added: “Politicians need to understand that housing is not just another issue—it is the issue,” said Adebayo. “The affordability crisis affects every aspect of life, from economic mobility to social stability. It’s time for our leaders to take bold steps to ensure that every Nigerian has access to affordable, quality housing.”