The Federal Government’s National Housing Data (NHD) Committee has made significant progress in its efforts to establish the National Housing Data Centre (NHDC), a centralized hub aimed at addressing Nigeria’s housing deficit through accurate data gathering and distribution.
The initiative set up by the Honourable Minister of Housing and Urban Development, Arc. Ahmed Dangiwa and being spearheaded by a 13-member Steering Committee, is expected to revolutionize the housing sector by providing credible and accessible data that will drive housing policies, investments, and urban development strategies.
At a recent workshop held in Abuja, the Chair of the Technical Committee, Mr. Taofeeq Olatinwo of the Nigeria Mortgage Refinance Company (NMRC), emphasized the importance of creating a comprehensive housing database.
According to him, the NHDC will provide real-time housing data that will shape housing policies, facilitate financing, and guide government interventions. The centre will also support the financial market by offering valuable insights to investors interested in Nigeria’s real estate sector.
The NHDC is being developed by the Federal Ministry of Housing and Urban Development in collaboration with key institutions, including, Nigeria Mortgage Refinance Company (NMRC), National Bureau of Statistics (NBS), Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Federal Mortgage Bank of Nigeria (FMBN), Housing Development Advocacy Network (HDAN), National Population Commission (NPC), Family Homes Funds Limited (FHFL), Federal Housing Authority (FHA), Association of Housing Corporation of Nigeria (AHCN), Real Estate Developers Association of Nigeria (REDAN) and Homes Group Limited.
These organizations are contributing critical datasets, ranging from the number of habitable and non-habitable houses to land title records, building attributes, and market trends. The committee has already compiled a significant amount of housing data, including the total number of houses in Nigeria, broken down by location, building type, and structural attributes.
Mr. Olatinwo highlighted that the committee is working across five key areas: establishing a data collection framework, ensuring continuous engagement with stakeholders, developing a distribution channel for investors, assessing housing’s contribution to Nigeria’s GDP, and setting up a regulatory framework for the NHDC’s operations. The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has also committed to sponsoring a detailed research study on Nigeria’s housing deficit, a crucial step toward understanding the extent of the problem and identifying data-driven solutions.
To ensure that the NHDC remains efficient and transparent, the Technical Committee has established four specialized sub-teams to focus on different aspects of the project. These teams are tasked with designing a data-gathering strategy, setting up a distribution system for policymakers and investors, and ensuring that relevant government agencies actively support the initiative.
After the committee’s next meeting, the Housing Development Advocacy Network (HDAN) will organize a stakeholders’ workshop aimed at gathering more input from industry players and strengthening the NHDC’s foundation.
A key milestone in the NHDC’s development is the establishment of a structured communication and reporting protocol. The committee has agreed to provide quarterly updates to the Minister of Housing and Urban Development, Arc. Ahmed Dangiwa, and monthly progress reports to the Steering Committee. This structured approach ensures that the project stays on course and allows for necessary adjustments as new data is collected and analyzed.
The committee has also commenced the integration of all collected data into the Housing Market Information Portal (HMIP), a digital platform that will serve as the primary access point for housing market insights. The portal will provide investors, developers, and government agencies with real-time data on housing availability, mortgage financing, property prices, and construction trends.
With at least five workshops already held, and a solid framework in place, stakeholders in Nigeria and beyond remain optimistic about the NHDC’s potential to bridge Nigeria’s housing deficit and foster economic growth through a structured housing economy.
By aligning data-driven policies with strategic investments, the Federal Government under the leadership of His Excellency, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is taking a bold step toward making affordable housing a reality for millions of Nigerians.
