HDAN Advocates Housing Strategy for Abuja's Crisis

The Housing Development Advocacy Network (HDAN) has advocated for a housing development strategy in Abuja that aligns housing supply with the income levels of residents. This initiative arises from concerns regarding a significant housing deficit of approximately 1.7 million units in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), driven by rapid population growth, rising rents, and inadequate affordable housing supply.

The report titled ‘Abuja Housing Crisis 2026: 1.7million Housing Deficit Amid Rapid Population Growth, Rising Rents and Empty Homes’ highlights that civil servants, young professionals, informal-sector workers, and low- to middle-income households struggle to find decent accommodation near their workplaces. Festus Adebayo, the Executive Director of HDAN, emphasized that the housing crisis is not merely about the number of houses built but their affordability and suitability for those in need.

High land prices, construction costs, and limited mortgage accessibility are identified as barriers to homeownership. The report warns that the ongoing trend of rising rents could have broader economic implications, pushing workers further from employment centers and straining public infrastructure.