Housing sector stakeholders are strongly urging the establishment of a robust advocacy group in Nigeria. Their aim is to champion citizens’ housing rights and ensure government accountability, inspired by the successful efforts of activists in South Africa.
During a forum on housing rights and urban development, co-hosted by Heinrich Boell Stiftung, the Centre for Housing and Sustainable Development at the University of Lagos, and the African Cities Research Consortium, Professor Timothy Nubi, Director of the Centre for Housing and Sustainable Development (CHSD), highlighted the critical need for a unified platform. This platform would amplify the voices of the underprivileged and challenge policies that exacerbate homelessness and urban disparity.
Professor Nubi underscored the growing number of homeless individuals and the marginalization of the urban poor, emphasizing the necessity for professionals, journalists, lawyers, and civil society organizations to unite in demanding better housing policies. “We are here to form an advocacy group that will emulate the work of activists in South Africa—giving voice to the voiceless. Unfortunately, we lack such a strong and coordinated entity in our country,” he stated.
He recounted an experience in 2006 after presenting a paper in the United Kingdom, where a South African participant inquired about the lack of public protests in Nigeria regarding essential services like electricity and water. “He asked me, ‘You do not protest in your country? No light, no water?’ He explained that in South Africa, citizens organize themselves to confront the government, take legal action, and demand their rights. That is the kind of organization we aim to establish here,” Professor Nubi elaborated.
The expert also lamented the perceived absence of institutional memory in Nigeria and many African nations, noting that this often leads to the misconception that no progress has ever been made in housing development. He countered this by asserting that Nigeria once implemented effective housing policies and programs that catered to the needs of low- and middle-income earners.
Providing historical context, Professor Nubi pointed out that in the 1980s, public servants on modest salaries could afford to reside in areas like the 1004 Housing Estate in Lagos, which has since become an enclave for the affluent. “In the 1980s, civil servants on levels eight to ten could live in 1004. But today, only the very wealthy can afford to live there. What went wrong?” he questioned.
He also referenced the Employee Housing Act of 1977, which mandated employers with at least 50 staff members to provide housing for their workers. This legislation, he explained, contributed to the development of significant housing projects such as Satellite Town in Lagos, where the federal government facilitated land allocation for organizations to build employee housing. “Within five years in the early 1970s, about 5,000 housing units were built in Satellite Town. That was a major achievement. The question now is: where is the next Satellite Town after 1977?” Professor Nubi queried.
Furthermore, the expert drew attention to the National Housing Fund, which mandates a 2.5% income contribution from workers to support housing development. While acknowledging its potential, Professor Nubi stated that mismanagement and a lack of awareness have hindered many contributors from realizing its benefits. “If the National Housing Fund had been properly managed, it could have become one of the largest development funds in Africa, comparable to the pension fund system,” he remarked.
He also recalled substantial housing initiatives under previous administrations, including the construction of approximately 40,000 housing units across various estates to provide affordable homes for low-income Nigerians. However, these programs saw a decline following economic reforms during the Structural Adjustment Programme era, which promoted privatization and reduced public spending. “The government was advised to withdraw from providing housing, water, and social services. Everything was to be market-driven—demand and supply. Today, we are experiencing the repercussions of those policies,” Professor Nubi stated.
The scholar emphasized that historical African cities were inclusive, with people from all economic backgrounds living together, a stark contrast to the current trend of gated communities and urban exclusion driven by capitalism. “In traditional African cities, the rich and the poor lived side by side. A large mansion could stand next to a small house. It was capitalism and market-driven policies that displaced the poor from the city,” he explained.
Consequently, the expert urged cross-sectoral collaboration to reshape Nigeria’s housing policy. “Lawyers, journalists, academics, and civil society groups must work together to alter the course of housing policy in this country. We must reclaim the principle that housing is a right and ensure our cities are inclusive for all,” he urged. The proposed advocacy group, he added, would mobilize citizens, challenge detrimental policies, and pressure government institutions to prioritize affordable housing as a cornerstone of national development.
Dr. Temilade Sesan, Lagos City Manager for the African Cities Research Consortium, echoed the call for intensified advocacy and collective action to address housing challenges and homelessness in Nigerian cities, affirming that access to housing and public amenities is a fundamental right.
Dr. Sesan analyzed policy approaches in West and East African countries and their relevance to Nigeria, noting the critical role of cities in national development due to their ability to attract populations and foster economic activity. “Cities are central to national development. They draw large populations and act as centers for economic activity, which drives growth. Everyone, however, has the right to participate in and benefit from what a city offers,” she stated.
She stressed that advocacy must begin with the acknowledgement of equal rights to public goods, including decent housing, and that governments must be held accountable for upholding these rights. “If people have a right to the city, they also have a right to decent living and housing within that city. Where income disparities create obstacles, it becomes the government’s responsibility to implement solutions,” she explained.
Dr. Sesan further noted that funding alone is insufficient to resolve the housing deficit, highlighting the necessity of effective policies and cooperation among government, the private sector, and other stakeholders. She refuted the notion that housing should be considered solely a private matter. “The idea that housing is a personal problem and not the state’s concern is incorrect. When housing issues arise, their public impact becomes evident—people sleeping under bridges or being criminalized due to homelessness,” she stated.
She emphasized that homelessness and inadequate housing are societal issues requiring collective solutions, not individual blame. Dr. Sesan advocated for the revival of communal values that emphasize shared responsibility. “We often say it takes a village to raise a child. This communal spirit is prevalent across Africa, sometimes referred to as the Ubuntu spirit—the understanding that we are interconnected,” she said. Excessive individualism in urban settings, she noted, has eroded this collective sense of responsibility, complicating efforts to address social issues like housing inequality.
She revealed that initiatives are underway to establish a broad advocacy movement encompassing academics, journalists, creatives, and community activists. This initiative, she explained, aims to garner support for inclusive housing policies and promote citizens’ right to reside in cities. “We are still in the nascent stages. The plan is to begin with commitments from those present and allow the movement to expand through their networks,” she shared. Citing grassroots movements in other nations, Dr. Sesan observed that successful advocacy often starts with small groups before evolving into larger movements. She concluded by stating that the outcomes of current discussions will be disseminated to the media and other stakeholders to facilitate the development of a structured advocacy platform focused on improving housing and living conditions in Nigerian cities.
