Africa is currently facing a housing deficit of at least 50 million units, alongside an estimated $1.4 trillion financing gap, Nigeria’s Minister of Housing and Urban Development, Ahmed Musa Dangiwa, has said.
Speaking at the 7th Africa Housing Awards held in Abuja, Nigeria’s federal capital, Dangiwa described the housing shortage as one of the continent’s most pressing development challenges, with implications for economic growth, social stability, and urban resilience.
Okay News Reports that the minister warned the situation could deteriorate sharply if urgent action is not taken. According to him, Africa’s housing deficit could rise to about 130 million units by 2030 if large-scale solutions are not accelerated. He added that rapid urbanisation, weak housing finance systems, and limited mass housing delivery continue to widen the gap across the continent.
Dangiwa noted that about 54 million Africans currently live in urban slums, underscoring the scale of unmet housing demand. He said housing shortages are increasingly constraining productivity, fuelling social risks, and exposing cities to climate and infrastructure stress.
Nigeria, Africa’s most populous country, mirrors the wider continental challenge. The minister disclosed that the country has a conservatively estimated housing deficit of more than 17 million units, reflecting decades of underinvestment and fragmented delivery approaches.
He said the Federal Government of Nigeria, under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, is shifting from isolated housing projects to a structured national housing delivery programme. According to Dangiwa, more than 10,000 housing units have been initiated across 14 states and the Federal Capital Territory over the past two years. These efforts also include urban renewal and slum upgrade projects impacting more than 150 communities nationwide.
Despite these interventions, the minister stressed that no single country can close the housing gap alone. He called for stronger continental cooperation, deeper private sector participation, and the development of scalable and affordable housing finance models across Africa.
The housing deficit dominated discussions at the Africa Housing Awards, where 52 individuals and institutions were recognised for initiatives aimed at expanding housing supply. The convener of the awards, Festus Adebayo, said the housing and construction sector remains a major driver of employment and economic growth but is under increasing pressure from rising demand, regulatory weaknesses, and global economic headwinds.
Adebayo added that stakeholders are working with lawmakers, regulators, and government agencies to strengthen housing regulations in line with international best practices.
