Housing Subsidies and Rent Control in Nigeria
Abstract
Nigeria is currently grappling with a severe housing crisis defined by a deficit ranging from 15.2 million to 28 million units, a situation made increasingly difficult by rapid urbanisation. Current policy frameworks, including the National Housing Fund and various Federal Mortgage Bank of Nigeria programs, attempt to address these shortages through subsidies and mortgage assistance. However, there is a stark disconnect between these policy goals and actual results. Analysis shows that housing subsidies only benefit a small fraction of the population, while rent control measures like the Lagos State Tenancy and Recovery of Premises Bill 2025 frequently fail due to major enforcement hurdles. To bridge these gaps, institutional capacity must be strengthened alongside a more unified approach to federal and state regulations. A critical step involves expanding housing finance to capture the informal sector, which accounts for roughly 80% of the national workforce. Without these structural reforms, the National Housing Policy's objective of providing decent and affordable housing for all citizens will remain out of reach. Moving forward, the focus must shift toward harmonising regulatory efforts and ensuring financial products are accessible to the vast majority of workers who currently fall outside formal banking systems.
Keywords
Housing subsidiesrent controlNational Housing Fundaffordable housingNigeriaFederal Mortgage Bank of Nigeriatenancy lawhousing deficit.
References
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