Housing experts have called for comprehensive property tax reforms in Abuja to address housing affordability and reduce the prevalence of unoccupied buildings across the city.
Speaking at the Affordable Housing Hall of Fame event in Abuja recently, Executive Director of the Housing Development Advocate, Mr. Festus Adebayo, emphasised the urgency of property tax implementation over demolition as a solution to Abuja’s housing challenges.
“We need to focus on property tax reforms rather than demolition. All the empty houses in Maitama and Asokoro should be taxed. By the time the owners are paying heavy bills yearly, those properties will come back into circulation and address the housing deficit,” he said.
The call for reforms comes amid ongoing demolitions in the Federal Capital Territory ordered by the minister Nyesom Wike.
While Adebayo acknowledged the minister’s legal authority under the Urban and Regional Planning Law, he urged restraint and greater emphasis on dialogue.
“The minister has the constitutional power to carry out demolitions. But we have seen cases, like in Lugbe, where demolition continued despite evidence of reallocation documents. This undermines public trust,” he said.
He further criticised the demolition of properties with longstanding occupancy, such as the Ogbebo property, where residents have lived for over 40 years.
“Instead of demolishing, let’s discuss and allow the family to pay their bills. Such actions lead to economic waste in a tough economy,” Adebayo said.
Adebayo also highlighted the issue of unoccupied buildings in Abuja, linking them to corruption and money laundering.
“We recently learnt about an individual with 753 units of unoccupied houses in Lokogoma. This is money laundering, plain and simple. The government must either confiscate or heavily tax such properties,” he added.
He called on the FCT Minister to prioritise property tax reforms, ensuring that abandoned or underutilised properties contribute to the city’s economic and housing development.
Adebayo discussed the federal government’s constraints in delivering affordable homes, citing the rising cost of building materials.
“Cement now costs N9,500, pushing up construction costs. Under such circumstances, the government must create incentives for developers. Exempting builders of low-cost housing from certain taxes could motivate private sector participation,” he said.
He also praised past efforts, such as free land allocations during the tenure of former FCT Minister Nasir El-Rufai, which led to significant development in areas like Lokogoma and Sunnyvale.
During a recent stakeholder engagement, the Minister of Housing and Urban Development, Ahmed Dangiwa, reaffirmed the government’s commitment to enforcing compliance with land administration laws while optimising federal assets.
“Our aim is to fast-track the completion of housing projects to increase affordable housing stock. We are also addressing irregular developments and ensuring proper land administration,” Dangiwa said.
He announced plans to renovate federal housing facilities and address issues such as double ground rents and flooding in government estates.
“Collaboration with state governments is crucial to resolving land disputes and ensuring sustainable urban development,” he added.
Adebayo urged the federal government to prioritise housing for low-income workers.
“There is no better time to help Nigerian workers than now. When people are focused on survival, housing becomes a secondary concern. Addressing this will reduce insecurity and improve overall quality of life,” he said.
