There is growing alarm over the recent surge in the nigeria-housing-crisis-28m-homes-drekford-solution/” title=”Tackling …'s Housing Crisis: How Drekford Is Bridging the Gap of Over 28 Million Missing Homes”>demolition of fully constructed homes and residential estates throughout Nigeria. Experts in the housing industry are urging the government to tackle the underlying issues driving this phenomenon instead of squandering limited resources on mass demolitions.
Festus Adebayo, the executive director of the Housing Development Advocacy Network (HDAN), expressed deep concern about the government’s role, attributing the crisis to official negligence and complicity.
He raised a critical question: why have authorities permitted these buildings to be erected over extended periods without intervention, only to destroy them once they are completed?
“At what point did the government intervene when approvals were granted by its personnel and during the construction phase? Why was there no earlier enforcement? Instead, they waited until the buildings were finished, painted, and even occupied before deploying bulldozers. This approach is utterly counterproductive,” Adebayo remarked.
He condemned the demolitions as a colossal economic loss, emphasizing that they impose undue suffering on innocent homeowners while failing to confront the corruption that allowed these illegal developments to flourish.
According to Adebayo, accountability should extend beyond just the developers.
“While developers face demolition as a penalty, it is imperative to also hold accountable the corrupt officials who facilitated these constructions. Until government employees who turned a blind eye are publicly sanctioned-whether through dismissal or demotion-this destructive cycle will persist. Currently, only developers bear the brunt, rendering the process one-sided and ineffective.”
He argued that penalizing complicit officials would serve as a powerful deterrent and significantly reduce future violations.
Industry stakeholders also voiced disappointment over the muted response from professional organizations, especially the Nigerian Institute of Town Planners (NITP). They stressed that if urban planning frameworks are being compromised, the Institute has a duty to raise its voice.
“It is unacceptable for NITP to remain silent. If their planning efforts are being undermined, they must take a stand,” the stakeholders insisted.
Adebayo reiterated that systemic corruption within government approval processes is the primary driver behind the proliferation of illegal buildings targeted for demolition, warning that the cycle will continue unless this is addressed.
“This must stop now,” he asserted. “The reckless destruction of property is a direct consequence of corruption. The government needs to act decisively and swiftly.”
