The Nigerian Institute of Town Planners (NITP), Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Chapter, has called for integrated urban planning, affordable housing policies and stronger environmental protection as part of efforts to address Nigeria’s housing deficit.
The call formed part of activities marking Urban October 2026, during which the institute organised an advocacy Citywalk in Abuja to promote inclusive communities, adequate housing and sustainable urban development.
The event, held on Saturday, began at the Old Parade Ground, Area 10, Garki, Abuja, and focused on the United Nations’ World Habitat Day theme, “Adequate Housing for All.”
Speaking during the exercise, Tpl. Gabriel Ameh, a fellow of the Nigerian Institute of Town Planners and First Vice Chairman of the institute, said the Citywalk was designed to raise public awareness about sustainable development, the housing crisis and the need to protect the environment.
“This is not just an FCT event. This is a global event from UN-Habitat, where we are supposed to be creating awareness on the Sustainable Development Goals,” Ameh said.
He explained that the campaign was intended to draw attention to the responsibilities of individuals, communities and government in creating sustainable neighbourhoods and ensuring access to decent housing.
According to him, adequate housing goes beyond providing a roof over people’s heads to guaranteeing comfort, functionality and a healthy environment.
“Adequate housing is not just where anyone is having shelter over their head, but a sustainable shelter where you can live comfortably. People under the bridge have shelter, but housing is where you have your comfort and can do other things,” he said.
Ameh maintained that Nigeria could make progress towards ensuring that every citizen had a comfortable home, but stressed that achieving the goal required stronger collaboration between the government, private sector and individuals.
He warned that housing delivery without proper planning could worsen urban challenges, arguing that sustainability must be considered in the design and development of residential areas.
“You cannot achieve adequate housing without planning, and you cannot achieve affordable, sustainable housing if your design or plan is not sustainable,” he said.
The town planner noted that housing was not limited to buildings, adding that green spaces, the surrounding environment, air quality and the functionality of structures were essential components of a decent living environment.
He also identified human behaviour and the failure of residents to embrace environmental sustainability as major obstacles to orderly urban development.
“The government can’t do it alone. Each and every one of us has to play a critical role to make sure that we overcome this menace in our society,” Ameh said.
On the housing deficit, he said governments at all levels needed to prioritise affordable housing, particularly through initiatives that could benefit low-income earners and residents of rural and underserved communities.
He argued that local governments could contribute by supporting the construction of affordable, properly planned homes instead of concentrating only on expensive, large-scale developments.
Ameh further identified the failure to domesticate the Nigerian Urban and Regional Planning Law across all states and the politicisation of master plans as major setbacks to effective urban development.
“One of the biggest mistakes we have made is not domesticating the Nigerian Urban and Regional Planning Law in all states of the federation,” he said.
He added that governments needed to treat master plans as essential instruments of development rather than political documents that could be disregarded or altered without regard for long-term urban needs.
“We keep playing politics with issues of master plans, and this is something we need to imbibe and make part of us,” he said.
Similarly, Tpl. Lami Ayuba, immediate past chairman of the NITP in Abuja and a fellow of the institute, called for a comprehensive housing strategy that integrates physical planning, reliable data, infrastructure and access to affordable mortgage facilities.
Ayuba said adequate housing should ensure that every Nigerian had access to a decent and sustainable neighbourhood equipped with basic infrastructure and facilities.
“Adequate housing means that every person should be accommodated in a decent neighbourhood, in a sustainable neighbourhood with basic infrastructure and facilities that are comfortable and affordable,” she said.
She expressed concern that low-income earners and members of the middle class faced difficulties accessing decent homes because of inconsistent housing policies, limited access to credit and mortgage arrangements that did not adequately reflect their income levels.
Ayuba said the lack of reliable housing and migration data also undermined the ability of authorities to plan for the growing population of the FCT.
She therefore advocated the establishment of a Housing Secretariat in the territory to coordinate housing needs, collect relevant data and develop projections for future demand.
“I have advocated that they should have a Housing Secretariat, just like they have youth and women secretariats, where housing should be planned and projected, and where data for housing needs is collected and projected,” she said.
According to her, such an office would help authorities determine the number of households being created annually, the housing needs of new residents and the number of homes required to accommodate the territory’s expanding population.
Ayuba also called for better coordination between housing delivery and urban planning, arguing that constructing houses without properly planned cities, residential zones and infrastructure would not provide a sustainable solution.
“Government should make planning part of the major key strategies and policies for housing delivery. It is not just the Ministry of Housing, and it is not just to say we are going to build 1,000 houses,” she said.
She added that integrating planning with housing policies would help governments develop new towns, establish residential districts and provide clear direction for urban expansion.
Meanwhile, Niina Rinne, Chief Technical Adviser and Head of the UN-Habitat Nigeria Country Office, called for environmental protection to be prioritised in urban planning, particularly in efforts to prevent flooding and preserve green areas.
Rinne said protected areas should be clearly identified in development plans and that natural and semi-natural spaces should be connected to create a network of green areas across cities.
She urged urban planners and authorities to respect natural ecosystems before deciding where to locate housing, infrastructure and other developments.
“We need to respect nature, and we need to put nature first, and then see where we can actually build houses and other services,” she said.