Housing experts and urban planners are calling for a shift towards high-rise residential developments as a long-term solution to Nigeria’s housing deficit and the growing crisis in informal settlements. They argue that vertical development can help upgrade slums without displacing the residents who depend on them.
Joseph Ogunlade, a US-based housing affordability analyst, said Nigeria’s housing challenge is less about the total number of houses and more about poor urban planning, inefficient land use, and limited access to affordable land. According to him, cities like Lagos, Abuja, and Port Harcourt are running out of usable land within urban centres, making horizontal expansion unsustainable.
“We need to start thinking about building up,” Ogunlade said. “High-rise buildings offer a way to maximise limited urban land. With proper planning, we can provide more housing units per square metre, just like countries that have faced similar challenges.”
He cited examples from Singapore, Brazil, and Ethiopia, where vertical housing has been integrated with strong government policies, access to financing, and social infrastructure. “These countries have demonstrated that high-rise housing for low- and middle-income populations can work if backed by the right support systems,” he said.
In Singapore, Ogunlade noted, the government played a central role in building and subsidising high-quality public housing. Brazil’s approach involved linking vertical housing with social development goals, while Ethiopia relied on public land and coordinated policy to build high-rise units for the urban poor.
However, Ogunlade stressed that high-rises alone are not the solution. “It’s not just about stacking floors. We need affordability, sustainability, and social infrastructure—access to schools, hospitals, and transportation. Developers should be incentivised to build for low- and middle-income earners, and government policy must guide and support these efforts.”
He also advocated for expanded mortgage access, lower interest rates, and alternative financing options like cooperative housing and rent-to-own models to make high-rise homes accessible to more Nigerians.
Crucially, Ogunlade argued, slum upgrades should not come at the expense of displacing vulnerable residents. “Instead of eviction and demolition, let’s explore public-private partnerships to redevelop slums with vertical housing. These buildings can be dignified, safe, and long-lasting, if built and maintained correctly,” he said.
He emphasised the role of data in planning. “Using geospatial, income, and employment data, we can identify areas of real need and build housing that reflects the financial realities of the people. Data helps ensure that we’re not just building more homes, but the right homes for the right people in the right locations.”
Supporting this view, Nigerian estate surveyor Olorunyomi Alatise said that for vertical slum upgrades to be successful, they must prioritise in-situ development—redeveloping existing communities without displacing them. He stressed the importance of integrating housing, planning, and social services into a unified policy framework.
Alatise pointed out both the benefits and risks of the high-rise approach. “High-rises can mean better land use, stronger infrastructure, and economic uplift through formalisation. But if not managed well, they can also cause unaffordability, social disruption, and maintenance problems. Many of the people being moved may not be able to afford the new homes.”
He warned that the failure to consider affordability and long-term building maintenance could create a new wave of urban challenges, especially if the projects are executed without community input.
Both experts agreed that high-rise housing can be a sustainable solution for slum redevelopment—but only if backed by thoughtful government planning, adequate financing, and a commitment to social equity.
