Estate surveyors and valuers have called on the Federal Government to improve access to land and accelerate infrastructure development as critical steps to bridging Nigeria’s housing deficit, currently estimated at over 21 million units.
The call was made by property professionals at the Estate Surveyors and Valuers Registration Board of Nigeria (ESVARBON) Valuers Assembly in Abuja, where industry leaders reviewed the challenges facing the housing sector and the economic impact of inadequate property data.
Empowering Citizens Through Land Access The President of the Nigerian Institution of Estate Surveyors and Valuers (NIESV), Bature Muhammad, urged the government to make land more accessible so that individual citizens can build their own homes.
He advised the government to expand site and services schemes by opening up land, constructing access roads, demarcating plots, and allocating them to the public for construction.
While commending the ongoing Renewed Hope Housing Scheme, which has initiated the construction of thousands of housing units across several states, Muhammad noted that empowering citizens with direct land access would significantly fast-track housing delivery while the government continues to build medium and low-income housing.
Infrastructure Drive in Satellite Towns Aminu Waziri, the Acting Chairman of the NIESV Board, stressed that massive infrastructure development is needed, particularly in the satellite communities surrounding major cities, to encourage property development.
Waziri explained that providing adequate infrastructure in these peri-urban areas would naturally attract both public and private developers to invest in housing construction, thereby reducing the housing deficit.
He also pointed out the severe economic implications of inadequate asset valuation in the country. According to Waziri, the non-application of proper asset valuation in the national economy has resulted in a loss of approximately N30 trillion.
Data Consolidation and Global Standards To support better planning and economic development, Muhammad emphasized the urgent need for a consolidated national database. He revealed that NIESV is currently collaborating with ESVARBON to assemble reliable data to guide property valuation and infrastructure planning nationwide.
Also speaking at the assembly, Uche Egwuatu, Chair of the Education Committee of ESVARBON, highlighted the importance of aligning Nigerian valuation practices with international standards.
Egwuatu urged practitioners to participate in global valuation developments and improve their capacity building. She noted that the adoption of international standards into Nigeria’s Green Book ensures that local practices comply with global best practices, adding that ESVARBON is also working to update valuation education in academic institutions to ensure future professionals are equipped with current industry knowledge