UNILAG don urges Nigeria to shift from building units to in-situ community upgrading
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Professor Timothy Nubi of the University of Lagos says Nigeria's housing policy should be measured by whether communities stay affordable and resilient, not by the number of units built.
A Professor of Estate Management and Valuation at the University of Lagos, Timothy Nubi, has called for a fundamental shift in Nigeria's housing policy from the construction of housing units to the creation and upgrading of sustainable, inclusive and resilient communities.
Nubi made the call at the second lecture series of the Folawiyo Entrepreneurship Centre at Yaba College of Technology, themed "Sustainable Estate Development in Nigeria: Building Resilient Communities Through Clean Water, Clean Energy and Innovation," according to THISDAY.
He argued that the success of housing delivery should not be measured by the number of houses built or settlements cleared, but by whether communities remain affordable, functional, inclusive, environmentally responsible and resilient throughout their lifecycle. Nigeria's housing challenge, he said, goes beyond a shortage of units to include quality, affordability, infrastructure, environmental risks and institutional capacity.
"In-situ upgrading should be the preferred approach where settlements can be made safe and resilient," Nubi said, adding that such interventions should cover roads and drainage, clean water, sanitation, electricity, waste management, public spaces and housing rehabilitation. He stressed that works should be phased so residents can remain in their communities wherever possible, and said temporary relocation should come with clear information, fair compensation, secure return rights and protection of livelihoods.
Nubi also warned that urban regeneration can produce land speculation, rent escalation, forced displacement and the replacement of low-income residents by wealthier groups, and recommended tenure regularisation, affordability safeguards, community land arrangements, transparent valuation and inclusive financing. He called for coordinated action among government agencies, developers, financial institutions, professional bodies and communities.