Widespread demolitions in urban areas in Nigeria have worsened the current housing crisis, which is marked by a startling 28 million unit deficit. These demolitions, which are frequently framed as an enforcement of building codes and urban planning laws, target informal settlements and unauthorized constructions. This has worsened the situation by forcing thousands of people to relocate and decreasing the already inadequate housing supply. The trend of large-scale demolitions has persisted into 2024, intensifying the crisis in key cities including Lagos, Abuja, Oyo, and others.
Many citizens have turned to building homes in informal settlements in places like Lagos and Abuja, where Urbanization and population growth have outpaced the development of infrastructure. These homes, which were frequently constructed without permits or following building codes, are now subjected to demolition. Government officials defend these measures by pointing to safety issues, such as the possibility of flooding in Lagos’s Makoko coastal neighborhoods or structural instability in homes constructed with substandard materials. For instance, the Demolition of the waterfront village of Otodo Gbame was justified on the basis of non-compliance with planning rules and environmental protection.
Nigeria’s housing needs are impacted by demolitions.
Similarly, the Federal Capital Territory Administration has destroyed a large number of informal settlements in Abuja on the grounds that they infringed upon government-owned property and violated land-use regulations. Just like other major cities, demolition efforts in Abuja, the Federal Capital Territory, have persisted in 2024. Authorities blamed encroachments on government land and violations of city planning standards for the leveling of communities like Gishiri and Durumi this year. Urban centers like Port Harcourt, Kano, and Kaduna have also witnessed similar operations in 2024.
Furthermore, demolition activity has also increased in Oyo State lately, particularly in the state capital, Ibadan. Hundreds of families were displaced when an informal settlement close to the well-known Dugbe region was demolished in the middle of 2024. Road extensions and urban redevelopment initiatives have required the clearing of entire neighborhoods. Notwithstanding these defenses, the demolitions have had a negative impact on Nigeria’s housing needs. In actuality, a large number of these informal dwellings were crucial shelters for low-income families who could not afford the exorbitant fees associated with formal housing.
Housing issues could reach unprecedented levels.
Continuous home demolition is outpacing the nation’s capacity to build new, affordable houses. As a result, the deficit keeps increasing, making the Housing Crisis worse for millions more Nigerians. The combination of rising land costs, inadequate mortgage systems, and limited government Investment in low-cost housing exacerbates the problem. Fundamentally, the wave of demolitions that are engulfing Nigeria emphasises how vulnerable millions of people’s housing is and the gravity of a crisis that shows no signs of abating.
Without a halt to these displacements, the housing gap will keep growing, making safe and affordable homes even more unattainable for the most vulnerable residents of the nation. Experts worry that the issue could reach unprecedented levels due to factors like rapid population increase, inadequate urban planning, and low investment in affordable housing, in addition to the continuous demolitions in major cities. With the country’s population forecasted to skyrocket to over 400 million by 2050, the demand for housing will only increase, but the current rate of Construction is grossly inadequate to meet this demand.
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The widening disparity between Supply and Demand is expected to push more Nigerians to live in unstable situations, like overcrowded homes, hazardous shelters, and increase the number of homeless people. The lack of Affordable Housing is not limited to urban areas; it is expected to put greater pressure on already strained urban centers as rural-to-urban migration increases. Also, unaddressed housing shortages are feared to lead to more serious social and economic problems. Increased homelessness and housing Insecurity could lead to weakened community structures, and reduced productivity, ultimately impacting Nigeria’s development trajectory.