Nigeria's Housing Deficit Persists as Abandoned Projects Dot the Landscape
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Tens of thousands of housing projects across Nigeria remain abandoned or incomplete, a review has found, with deteriorating buildings compounding a deficit that leaves millions without adequate shelter.
Despite decades of government intervention and private investment, millions of Nigerians remain without adequate housing, while public assets and residential developments deteriorate because of abandonment, poor construction, weak oversight and inadequate maintenance.
A survey by one of the country's professional bodies found that about 56,000 public and private projects, valued at trillions of naira, remain abandoned or left incomplete nationwide. Data from the Building Collapse Prevention Guild (BCPG) showed Nigeria has recorded at least 679 building collapses, causing more than 1,639 deaths, with Lagos accounting for 50 to 60 per cent of reported incidents and the Federal Capital Territory accounting for a significant share.
The Lagos State Building Control Agency (LASBCA) identified 759 abandoned buildings across the state's local government areas and local council development areas as of June 20, 2026. Its General Manager, Bldr Florence Omolola Gbaye, said the structures were classified by construction status, structural condition, duration of abandonment, number of floors and location, with Ayobo-Ipaja, Amuwo-Odofin, Ikorodu Central, Ajeromi-Ifelodun and Lagos Mainland among the highest concentrations. She warned the buildings posed security, environmental and public health risks.
The BCPG's Ikoyi-Obalende cell raised concern over the state of the 15-storey Federal Secretariat complex in Ikoyi and the adjoining three 12-storey Ikoyi Towers, which have remained unused despite their strategic location. Stakeholders appealed to President Bola Tinubu to rehabilitate and adaptively reuse the buildings in a letter signed by the cell's coordinator, Arc. Bola Arilesere, and secretary, Adebola Aseyera, warning that vandals and scrap-metal thieves were stripping abandoned structures nationwide.
In Abuja's Kaba District, the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) disclosed that funds for a 962-unit Federal Mortgage Bank of Nigeria housing development had been diverted, leaving no units constructed, with the land returned after a court-ordered recovery. The Housing Development Advocacy Network (HDAN) called for a comprehensive review of housing projects undertaken by federal and state governments and a nationwide audit of abandoned federal housing assets.
On September 23, the Minister of Housing and Urban Development, Muttaqha Rabe Darma, inspected the abandoned National Housing Programme estate at Kubwa-Karsana, Abuja. The Federal Government subsequently said it was reviewing abandoned housing projects nationwide and planned to rehabilitate and complete them.