Africa’s housing deficit may hit 130m units by 2030 amid $1.4trn finance gap — Dangiwa

Africa’s housing shortage is deepening, with the continent already short of at least 50 million homes and facing a housing finance gap estimated at more than $1.4 trillion.

Ahmed Musa Dangiwa, minister of Housing and Urban Development, raised the alarm in remarks delivered in Abuja at the 7th Africa Housing Awards on Friday, December 12, 2025.

According to Dangiwa, “the deficit trajectory is worsening and could rise to about 130 million housing units by 2030 if solutions are not accelerated,” underscoring housing as one of Africa’s most critical development pressures.

He said about 54 million Africans currently live in urban slums, reflecting the scale of unmet demand driven by rapid urbanisation, weak housing finance systems and limited large-scale delivery.

Read also: FG moves to unlock $300bn dead capital through land reform — Dangiwa

According to him, housing shortages now sit at the centre of economic growth constraints, social stability risks and urban resilience challenges across the continent.

Nigeria, he noted, mirrors the broader African deficit, with a conservatively estimated housing shortfall of more than 17 million units.

He said the federal government is responding by shifting from fragmented projects to a structured national housing delivery programme under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda.

Dangiwa disclosed that more than 10,000 housing units have been commenced across 14 states and the Federal Capital Territory in the last two years, alongside urban renewal and slum upgrade projects impacting more than 150 communities nationwide.

He stressed, however, that no single country can close the deficit alone, calling for stronger continental cooperation, increased private sector participation and scalable financing models.

The housing deficit theme dominated the Africa Housing Awards, where 52 individuals and institutions were recognised for interventions aimed at narrowing supply gaps.

Governor Abba Yusuf of Kano State was honoured for policies supporting mass housing delivery and urban renewal, while Dangiwa received an award for reforms focused on affordability, local building materials and private sector engagement.

James Sankwasa, Namibia’s minister of Urban and Rural Development, who received the Minister for Housing of the Year 2025 award, said African countries must increasingly acknowledge and scale homegrown solutions to persistent housing shortages.

Convener of the awards, Festus Adebayo, said the housing and construction sector remains a major driver of jobs and economic growth but is under pressure from rising demand, regulatory gaps and global economic headwinds.

He said these pressures informed the creation of the awards platform to promote accountability and best practice across the sector.

Adebayo said the Housing Development Advocacy Network is enforcing a zero-tolerance stance against unethical practices, warning that the group would expose fraud and sharp practices in the sector, including by award recipients, to protect homebuyers and investors.

He added that stakeholders are working with the National Assembly, the Federal Capital Territory Administration, the Federal Ministry of Housing, Lagos State and other regulators to strengthen housing regulations in line with international best practice.

In her remarks, Grace Ike, chairman of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), FCT Council, called for stronger collaboration between journalists and housing sector stakeholders to improve access to decent housing for media professionals.

Ike praised Festus Adebayo, organiser of the Africa Housing Awards and chief executive officer of Housing TV Show, for his consistent advocacy and support for journalism, saying the platform had amplified public discourse on affordable housing.

She appealed to the minister of housing to fulfil the promise of a Journalists’ Village in the FCT, urging that the project be realised by 2026 with support from the Federal Mortgage Bank of Nigeria.

“That promise ignited dreams across newsrooms. Now, we make a passionate appeal not to abandon us. Our dream is to see your promise come to fruition in 2026.

“With the support of the mortgage bank, this village can rise, equipping journalists with stable homes to focus on ethical reporting and peace-building,” she said.

The event drew housing ministers and delegations from Namibia, Gambia, Ghana and Kenya, alongside Nigerian industry stakeholders.

Ruth Tene, Assistant Editor, Agric/Solid Minerals/INEC

Ruth Tene is an award-winning journalist with over 15 years experience in developmental reporting across several newsrooms, as a reporter, editor and other managerial roles. She holds a Postgraduate Diploma in Journalism from the University of Maiduguri among several other certifications

She has attended several trainings and certifications both locally and internationally and has been recognized for her impactful work in humanitarian reporting, receiving the Gold Award for Humanitarian Services from the Amazing Grace Foundation. She is also a recipient of the Home Alliance Fellowship, reflecting her commitment to fostering a more humane, safer and more sustainable planet.

An active member of professional journalism bodies, Ruth is affiliated with the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), the National Association of Women Journalists (NAWOJ), and the Agricultural Correspondents Association of Nigeria (ACAN), where she continues to advocate for excellence, ethical reporting, and development-focused journalism.

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