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The Housing Development Advocacy Network (HDAN) has launched a nationwide survey to identify and document unoccupied housing projects across various states. The comprehensive report, detailing all identified properties, is set to be presented within the next four months.
The initiative seeks to tackle the pressing issue of abandoned and underutilised housing estates, many of which remain vacant due to infrastructural deficits, unsuitable locations on city outskirts, flawed allocation processes, inadequate access roads and regulatory bottlenecks.
This was disclosed by the Executive Director of HDAN, Festus Adebayo, in Abuja. According to him, the organisation, which comprises over 5,000 professionals in the housing and construction sector, is taking a proactive approach to tackling Nigeria’s housing crisis.
“We have seen too many housing projects left unoccupied due to issues such as poor infrastructure, wrong location, high costs, and inefficient allocation processes. HDAN is determined to compile a comprehensive list of these estates and work towards practical solutions,” Adebayo stated.
HDAN has long been a champion of housing sector reforms, and in 2025, the organisation is ramping up its efforts by establishing specialised committees dedicated to policy advocacy and legislative engagement.
Adebayo noted that the group is pushing for amendments to the outdated housing-related laws such as the Federal Housing Authority (FHA) Act, the Federal Mortgage Bank of Nigeria (FMBN) Act and the National Housing Fund (NHF) Act.
“We are also looking at the possibility of a legal framework that will back social housing and recognize the right of citizens to affordable shelter,” he added.
As part of its broader efforts, HDAN is also working towards strengthening research and intelligence in the housing sector. The organization has committed to supporting the National Housing Data Centre Steering Committee to ensure the collection of accurate and reliable data that will inform policies and investments in the sector.
One of HDAN’s major concerns is the deteriorating condition of many housing estates built under Public-Private Partnerships (PPP). According to Adebayo, these estates are often in bad shape due to lack of maintenance and ineffective management structures. He emphasized that making the allocation process more transparent and improving affordability would encourage more residents to occupy them.
Several reports have highlighted the challenges faced by unoccupied housing projects in Nigeria. “Some of these housing projects are located in areas with inadequate infrastructure, such as poor road networks, unreliable water supply, and lack of electricity, making them unattractive to potential occupants,” an industry report noted.
Other issues include poor urban planning, where government or private-built estates are situated too far from employment hubs, social amenities, and transportation links.
In the course of the compilation, HDAN will be reaching out to all financiers and developers that are concerned in these projects.
Additionally, cumbersome allocation and purchasing processes have discouraged potential buyers. “The absence of effective policies and regulations, coupled with an uncoordinated allocation system, has led to illegal occupation of some housing estates, undermining the government’s efforts to provide affordable housing,” Adebayo remarked.
HDAN has also noted that many estates suffer from issues such as bad roads, lack of perimeter fencing, shortage of reticulated water supply, and poor landscaping. These factors further discourage prospective residents from moving into the available homes.
Adebayo reiterated HDAN’s commitment to encouraging social housing development and advocating for the government to construct more housing estates in urban and rural areas.
“We need housing that is closer to the people, well-planned, and affordable. The government must take deliberate steps to ensure these homes are not just built but are also livable,” he stated.
With HDAN’s nationwide housing project compilation underway, stakeholders in the housing sector are hopeful that this effort will provide actionable insights that will lead to better housing policies, improved infrastructure, and increased occupancy rates in existing estates.
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