By Cecilia Ogezi
Coordinator of the Africa International Housing Show (AIHS), Festus Adebayo has reiterated that the event would tackle the issue of vacant houses in Abuja amidst a housing crisis and deficit.
Speaking ahead of AIHS 2024, scheduled for 22-27 July, Adebayo stated that the annual forum brings together global stakeholders in the housing industry to propose solutions to housing challenges.
Adebayo attributed the prevalence of expensive, empty houses to ineffective planning that fails to address housing needs adequately. This year’s AIHS theme, “Financing The Housing We Need,” aims to confront this issue head-on. He stressed that the government must collaborate with developers committed to providing affordable housing and support them with incentives.
Over 600 houses remain unoccupied in the city center, highlighting systemic inefficiencies and economic imbalances. While new housing estates are emerging, many remain empty due to high rental costs. Areas such as Asokoro, Maitama, and Guzape have become unaffordable for most residents due to prohibitive rents.
Developers often leave properties vacant rather than lowering rents, further exacerbating the housing crisis. They cite high operational costs and an unfriendly property development environment as reasons for maintaining high rents. These factors have created a market where many properties are inaccessible to the average resident, despite the city’s growing housing needs.
