Nigeria’s economic future lies in harnessing the power of real estate, according to Senate President Godswill Akpabio. He believes strategic policies, transparent land administration, and sustainable infrastructure development hold the key to national prosperity.
Speaking in Lagos during his investiture as a Fellow of the Nigerian Institution of Estate Surveyors and Valuers (NIESV), he emphasized the sector’s crucial role in stabilizing the economy, boosting investor confidence, and addressing the country’s housing shortfall. In a statement released by his special assistant, Jackson Udom, he commended estate surveyors and valuers for their behind-the-scenes work in shaping Nigeria’s economic landscape, ensuring that land and property investments remain secure and viable.
He pointed out that without the expertise of real estate professionals, businesses would struggle to invest, and homeownership for millions of Nigerians would remain an unattainable dream. As global economies increasingly rely on real estate-backed financial stability, he urged Nigeria to reposition its property and housing sectors as vital engines for growth.
Akpabio assured stakeholders of legislative support for policies aimed at making housing more affordable, ensuring a corruption-free land administration system, attracting both local and foreign investments into the real estate sector, and promoting urban planning that fosters economic expansion. He stressed that real estate should not merely be seen as private wealth but as a critical economic asset for national development.
With Nigeria grappling with an estimated 28 million housing deficit, he called for stronger collaboration between the government, private sector, and real estate professionals to create lasting solutions. He emphasized that housing must be treated as a fundamental right rather than a privilege, advocating for frameworks that enable all Nigerians, regardless of income level, to achieve homeownership without undue financial hardship.
