The Nigerian Institute of Estate Surveyors and Valuers (NIESV) has called for the urgent review of the Land Use Act and the National Housing Policy to address persistent challenges in land accessibility and housing affordability.
Speaking at a press conference during the institute’s 55th annual conference in Abuja on Wednesday, NIESV President and Chairman of Council, Victor Alonge, said the Land Use Act of 1978 is outdated and no longer reflects current realities.
“The masses struggle to access land. The Act should be reviewed, and the land administration system revisited,” he said, stressing that land should not be the preserve of a privileged few or wealthy developers.
Alonge also pointed out that the current National Housing Policy lacks coherence and often fails to distinguish between affordable housing and social housing, which leads to misinterpretation and ineffective implementation.
“There is poor understanding and weak policy design around affordable housing. Nigeria lacks a proper social housing system,” he said, noting that homes labelled as ‘affordable’ are often beyond the reach of low-income earners.
He explained that true social housing is designed for essential workers like nurses and teachers, often situated in high-value or central urban locations to foster social inclusion.
“In other countries, targeted policies provide city-centre homes for key workers, enabling them to live alongside higher-income groups,” he added.
To further address housing inefficiencies, Alonge advocated for punitive taxation on vacant properties, arguing that it would discourage leaving homes unoccupied.
“In advanced economies, empty homes are heavily taxed to discourage leaving them unused. If faced with high taxes on an empty house, owners would likely reconsider keeping it vacant,” he said.
(NAN)