FG’s Technical Committee Releases New Housing Data, Pegs Deficit at 15 Million Units 

* Dangiwa Commends Committee for putting Nigeria’s Housing Data issue to rest 

 Ilorin, Nigeria - 26 January 2026: 
The National Housing Data Technical Committee, inaugurated by the Federal Ministry of Housing and Urban Development, has released new housing sector data indicating that Nigeria’s housing deficit for 2025 stood at 14.925 million housing units, underscoring the scale of the country’s housing challenge and the urgent need for data-driven interventions.

The data was presented by Dr. Taofeek Olatinwo, Chairman of the National Housing Data Technical Committee and Director at Nigeria Mortgage Refinance Company (NMRC), during a technical session at the 14th National Council on Lands, Housing and Urban Development, which held in Ilorin from 19th to 23rd January 2026.

According to the presentation, recent analysis conducted under the National Housing Data Programme offers more scientific estimates compared to unverified figures touted over the last few years. 

The data, which focused on number of persons per room as a standard for determining deficit, highlights persistent supply gaps driven by rapid population growth, urbanisation pressures, limited access to long-term housing finance, land and title constraints, and inadequate housing supply across several regions.

Housing Minister Arc. Ahmed Musa Dangiwa commended the committee for finally putting the issue of Nigeria’s housing data to rest. “ One of the biggest gaps in our sector has been the absence of reliable, centralized, and actionable housing data. Without data, planning becomes guesswork; investment becomes speculative; and tracking progress becomes difficult,” he said.

Earlier in his presentation, Dr. Olatinwo explained that the deficit estimates were derived from multiple validated data sources, including national household surveys, population and housing census data, and housing adequacy indices developed under international best practice frameworks.

“ Reliable housing data is fundamental to solving Nigeria’s housing problem. Accurate measurement of the housing deficit allows government, lenders, developers, and investors to plan effectively, allocate resources properly, and design sustainable interventions that expand access to affordable housing,” he said.

The presentation forms part of the broader work of the National Housing Data Technical Committee, a multi-agency platform inaugurated by the Federal Ministry of Housing and Urban Development and coordinated by NMRC, in collaboration with National Bureau of Statistics, National Population Commission, Central Bank of Nigeria, Federal Mortgage Bank of Nigeria, Federal Housing Authority, and other key housing sector institutions.

Under the programme, the Committee is leading efforts to establish the National Housing Data Centre, a central platform designed to aggregate, standardise, and disseminate housing and mortgage market data to support policy formulation, housing delivery planning, and long-term housing finance development.

The new deficit figures reaffirm the scale of Nigeria’s housing challenge and strengthen the case for coordinated reforms in land administration, housing supply, infrastructure development, and mortgage finance expansion.

The National Council on Lands, Housing and Urban Development serves as the highest intergovernmental policy forum on housing and urban development in Nigeria, bringing together federal and state governments to deliberate on sector priorities, reforms, and implementation strategies.