Jan 16, 2025

Reps C’ttee warns against conversion of homes to commercial areas

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The Chairman of the House of Representatives Committee on Urban Development and Regional Planning, Awaji-Inombek Abiante, has expressed concerns over the growing trend of converting residential neighborhoods into commercial and semi-industrial zones across Nigeria.

Speaking during a budget defense session with the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Housing and Urban Development, Shuaib Belgore, on Thursday, Abiante stressed the importance of proper urban planning to prevent the development of slums within city centers.

“We are increasingly alarmed by the conversion of residential areas into commercial and semi-industrial zones, which pose significant challenges,” he stated. “Before granting approvals for such conversions, it is essential to conduct thorough impact assessments.”


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Abiante cited Trademore Estate in Abuja as an example of poor planning. “Originally intended to address housing needs, the estate now faces annual flooding problems. For new and future estates, comprehensive assessments must be prioritized to avoid creating more issues while trying to solve others.”

The Rivers lawmaker also emphasized the need to modernize the legislative framework for town planning. “We are working on repealing and re-enacting the relevant Act to address urban planning concerns effectively. The bill has already passed its first reading, and we are engaging Nigerians to move this process forward.”

In his remarks, Belgore disclosed the ministry's plans to establish a National Housing Regulatory Authority to standardize building regulations. However, he expressed concerns over the significant reduction in the ministry’s budget, which was cut from ₦162 billion in 2024 to ₦83.7 billion in 2025.

“The budget for 2025 is grossly inadequate. Urban and Regional Development is allocated just ₦4.6 billion for various projects, which limits our ability to address critical issues,” Belgore stated.

The session underscored the urgent need for better urban planning, sufficient funding, and updated regulatory frameworks to address Nigeria's housing and urban development challenges effectively.

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