Africa is facing a housing deficit of no fewer than 50 million units, alongside an estimated housing finance gap of about 1.4 trillion dollars, the Minister of Housing and Urban Development, Ahmed Musa Dangiwa, has said.
Dangiwa disclosed this at the 7th Africa Housing Awards held in Abuja, where he described the housing crisis as one of the continent’s most urgent development challenges. He warned that without faster and more coordinated solutions, Africa’s housing deficit could rise sharply in the coming years.
According to him, “Today, about 54 million Africans live in urban slums, and the continent faces a shortfall of housing of at least 50 million housing units, whose housing finance gap is estimated at over 1.4 trillion dollars.”
He added that failure to scale up solutions could worsen the situation, saying, “So if you do not accept the solution or accelerate the solutions, Africa’s housing deficit is projected to rise to about 130 million units by 2030.”
At the event, about 52 individuals, organisations and government bodies were honoured across three categories. Among those recognised were the Kano State Governor, Alhaji Abba Yusuf, Dangiwa himself, and other African leaders who were acknowledged for their contributions to housing and urban development.
Governor Yusuf was named Housing and Infrastructure-Friendly Governor of the Year for policies that support mass housing delivery and urban renewal initiatives in Kano State. Dangiwa also emerged as Africa’s most transformational Minister of Housing and Urban Development 2025, in recognition of reforms focused on affordability, use of local materials, and increased private sector participation.
The minister stressed that housing should no longer be treated as a peripheral sector, noting that it sits at the intersection of economic growth, social stability, urban resilience and human dignity. He commended the organisers of the Africa International Housing Show for sustaining advocacy and accountability in the sector, describing the annual gathering as more than just a conference.
Turning attention to Nigeria, Dangiwa said the country’s housing deficit is conservatively estimated at over 17 million units. He explained that the Federal Government is responding with a more structured and measurable approach under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda.
According to him, the government has moved away from fragmented housing projects to a national programme designed to deliver results at scale. He revealed that in the last two years, the ministry had commenced over 10,000 housing units across 14 states and the Federal Capital Territory.
He also said that through urban renewal and slum-upgrade programmes, the Federal Government had impacted more than 150 communities nationwide by providing critical infrastructure to improve living conditions.
Despite these efforts, Dangiwa stressed that no single government or country can solve the housing challenge alone. He called for stronger continental collaboration, noting that Africa’s housing crisis requires shared solutions, financing models and policy alignment across borders.
Speaking at the event, Chairman of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), FCT Council, Grace Ike, called for closer collaboration between journalists and stakeholders in the housing sector to improve access to decent housing for media professionals.
Ike praised the organiser of the Africa Housing Awards and Chief Executive Officer of Housing TV Show, Barrister Festus Adebayo, for sustained advocacy and support for journalism. She said the platform has helped amplify public conversations around affordable housing across the continent.
She also appealed directly to the Minister of Housing to fulfil the promise of establishing a Journalists’ Village in the Federal Capital Territory. Ike urged that the project be completed by 2026 with the support of 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.
Also speaking, Namibia’s Minister of Urban and Rural Development, James Sankwasa, who received the Minister for Housing of the Year 2025 award, said Africa has reached a stage where it must recognise and celebrate its own development efforts.
Convener of the awards, Festus Adebayo, said the housing and construction sector remains a major driver of economic growth, job creation and national development across Africa.
According to him, “This informed our decision to come up with this Africa Housing award ceremony seven years ago to recognise and appreciate contributions of deserving individuals and organisations contributing to the development of the sector, which has been attracting participants from all across Africa.”
He added that the housing sector is evolving amid new technologies, shifting regulations, global economic pressures and environmental challenges that continue to shape how the industry operates.
Adebayo further said, “We would not hesitate to expose any fraudulent malpractices that have been given bad names to the sector, even if you are our award recipient. We are collaborating with the National Assembly, Federal Capital Territory, Federal Ministry of Housing, Lagos State government and other regulatory agencies to ensure appropriate regulations are put in place, like what is obtainable in Dubai.”
