Sustainable Solutions Crucial to Bridging Nigeria’s 40 Million Housing Deficit, Says FULafia Scholar

Prof. Ibrahim Ogiri Hassan, a scholar of construction technology and structures, has identified sustainable solutions as the most realistic pathway to closing Nigeria’s housing deficit and addressing global shelter shortages. 

Ogiri made the identification while delivering the 39th inaugural lecture of the Federal University of Lafia (FULafia).

The title of his lecture was: “Quest for Shelter and Conflicting Realities: What Is the Way Forward?”

Ogiri noted that Nigeria’s housing deficit which is estimated at over 40 million units, has continued to grow due to rapid urbanisation, high construction costs and poor policy formulation among others. 

Ogiri warned that these trends demand immediate and coordinated action, stressing the need to prioritise accessibility, affordability and sustainability in housing delivery to align with the Sustainable Development Goals, particularly SDG 11.

Some of the solutions he proposed included adopting sustainable financing models, strengthening public–private partnerships and leveraging alternative and local construction technologies to build modern homes.

These local solutions, he said, could include the use of agro waste to develop high-performance admixtures to support construction of modern, affordable homes.

Ogiri said that “shelter provision is a battle that must be fought and won.”

The lecture was chaired by Prof. Mohammed Isa Kida, the Vice-Chancellor Designate of FULafia, on behalf of the Vice chancellor of the University, Prof. Shehu Abdul Rahman.