Nigeria still has one of the highest housing deficits in sub-Saharan Africa, ranging from 17 million to 23 million housing units, a deficit that remains a longstanding problem for the country. Access to affordable and decent housing continues to be a distant dream for most Nigerians, despite decades of legislation, policy formulation, and institutional intervention by successive governments. This paper critically examines the key housing legislations and policies in Nigeria, such as the Land Use Act of 1978, National Housing Policy of 1991 (revised 2012), Federal Mortgage Bank of Nigeria Act, and the National Housing Fund Scheme among others. It critically analyzes policy goals, implementation outcomes, and structural constraints of these frameworks through a qualitative analysis of policy documents, government reports, and academic research. The results indicate that although Nigeria has established a relatively strong legislative framework for housing, the policies have not been effectively implemented due to several factors, including institutional weaknesses, the lack of adequate financing, bureaucratic delays, and rapid urbanization. The article calls for a broad-based land reform, reform of mortgage finance institutions, more public-private partnerships, and more sound urban planning as avenues for addressing the housing problem in Nigeria.
Keywords: Housing Policy, Land Use Act, National Housing Fund, Housing Deficit, Nigeria, Public-Private Partnership, Affordable Housing
