Dangote Cement Plc has urged stronger collaboration between government and private sector players to deliver affordable mass housing for millions of Nigerians in need.
Speaking at the Africa International Housing Show, the company’s National Sales Director, Dolapo Alli, said public-private partnerships (PPPs) could be a game-changer in bridging the country’s widening housing gap.
“The government can adopt PPP models to initiate the construction of new estates, while companies in the building and construction sector can be granted tax waivers and credits to finance new and affordable housing developments,” Alli suggested.
According to a company statement, Alli commended the Federal Government’s Renewed Hope Housing Initiative, designed to make homeownership more attainable for low- and middle-income earners. But he stressed that the scale of the crisis — with Nigeria’s housing deficit running into the millions — demands faster, broader action.
“There is a pressing need for deeper collaboration across public and private sectors to unlock innovative financing, streamline regulatory processes, and scale up delivery to meet the growing demand for decent and affordable housing,” he said.
Alli identified several factors hampering affordable housing delivery: rapid urbanisation, population growth, lack of technical capacity, high land and construction costs, inadequate infrastructure, unreliable housing data, and limited access to long-term, low-interest financing.
To address these challenges, he urged all levels of government to implement effective housing policies, release more land for development, and foster partnerships that encourage innovation in housing provision.
Analysts note that Nigeria’s housing crisis will require not just more construction, but also smarter policies, improved infrastructure, and inclusive financing models — areas where PPPs have proven effective in other emerging markets.
