Nigeria, often regarded as the wealthiest and most prominent Black nation on earth, continues to battle a persistent housing crisis.
With a housing deficit of over 20 million units, the demand for affordable homes far outweighs supply, driving property prices beyond the reach of most citizens. Economic instability, high unemployment, and a fluctuating exchange market have only worsened the situation, making access to decent housing a struggle for millions.
Yet, despite this dire need, several completed and near-completed housing estates in Abuja remain abandoned, raising questions about ownership, affordability, and governance in the real estate sector.
In a recent investigation by Housing TV, a team visited Lugbe, a rapidly growing suburb along the Abuja Airport Road, to examine the state of some of these empty estates. The first site was located on NUT Street, directly opposite Dunamis Church, just a short distance from the Nigerian Union of Teachers Secretariat. The estate, a massive complex of multi-story apartments, appeared well-built but eerily quiet.
A street trader near the area, who chose to remain anonymous, confirmed that only a handful of people lived there, adding that the estate had been in that state for a long time with no significant activity.
Upon approaching the premises, the team encountered children at the entrance who claimed to live there with their father but refused entry to outsiders. Strangely, the children could not even provide the name of the estate, highlighting its obscurity despite its vast size and prime location.
Moving further into Lugbe, the team arrived at Chika, another community in the area, where a long row of unfinished buildings stretched for several meters. These structures, lacking windows and doors, had been left in an abandoned state for years.
The first observation came from the cameraman, who remarked that the buildings had remained unchanged since he moved to Abuja over seven years ago.
Nearby, a group of Hausa traders operated a small market space beside the uncompleted estate. When asked about the name of the development, none of them could provide an answer, instead referring to it simply as the “Uncompleted Estate.”
No one had a clear explanation as to why the estate was left unfinished, nor could they identify its owners.
At the entrance of the estate, no visible security personnel were present, yet the gates were securely locked. A young man who introduced himself as a realtor and resident of the area claimed the estate was entangled in legal disputes, with a court order halting further construction. However, Housing TV was unable to verify these claims.
Despite efforts to document the estates through photos and videos, no signposts, developer logos, or other identifying markers were found on either site, further deepening the mystery surrounding their abandonment.
Meanwhile, thousands of Nigerians in Abuja and across the country struggle daily to find decent shelter, with many resorting to makeshift accommodations in uncompleted buildings or paying exorbitant rents for substandard living spaces.
The presence of abandoned estates in a city grappling with a severe housing crisis raises critical questions: Who owns these properties? Why are they empty? And what can be done to ensure they contribute to solving Nigeria’s housing deficit rather than standing as silent monuments to inefficiency and waste?
Until these estates are revived and put to good use, they will remain a stark reminder of the contradictions within Nigeria’s real estate sector where luxury developments sit empty while ordinary citizens sleep in desperate conditions.
