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Lessons from The World Bank and Other International Agencies on Housing Delivery in Nigeria

Nafo Precious Ngia, Anthony Dornubari Enwin

Abstract

Housing delivery in Nigeria continues to fall short of demand, despite sustained interventions by international agencies, particularly the World Bank, and several domestic housing policies; the gap between housing supply and demand continues to widen. This study examined housing delivery in Nigeria, focusing on the role and effectiveness of international interventions in shaping housing finance, policy reforms, and overall housing outcomes. Using a qualitative research approach, the study relied on secondary data from academic literature, government reports, policy documents, and publications from international development organizations, which were analyzed using descriptive and thematic methods. The findings showed that although international interventions contributed to important reforms, especially in housing finance through initiatives such as the Nigeria Mortgage Refinance Company , and helped strengthen policy frameworks and institutional structures, their impact on actual housing delivery remained limited. The benefits were largely concentrated among middle- income groups, with low-income households still excluded. Key challenges identified included land administration bottlenecks, weak access to mortgage finance, poor coordination among institutions, and inconsistent policy implementation. The study also found that many international housing models were not fully suited to Nigeria’s socio-economic realities, particularly the dominance of the informal sector. It concluded that the main issue was not a lack of strategies, but the difficulty of implementing them effectively.

Keywords

Housing deliveryaffordable housingWorld BankNigeriahousing deficit

References

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