By Oluyemi Israel
Prof. Sam Amadi, Director of the Abuja School of Social and Political Thought, has called on the government to support housing development by offering incentives and introducing new policies.
Speaking in an interview on Sunday in Abuja, Amadi stated that many Nigerians still lack access to decent housing, despite thousands of completed houses being available across the country.
He explained that most of these homes are not livable or affordable and remain empty for years.
According to him, the real issue is not just a lack of houses, but a lack of usable and accessible ones.
In addition, some people build houses using illegal money and don’t rent them out because they are not looking for income.
This, he said, has led to an artificial shortage in the rental market and caused rent prices to rise unfairly.
To address this issue, Amadi proposed that the government introduce a vacancy tax on homes that remain unoccupied for more than two years.
This, he believes, would encourage owners to rent out their properties or face financial penalties.
He also warned that a general property tax could hurt investments and should be avoided.
It was pointed out that in many cities, rent is too high compared to the actual value of the homes.
For example, a one-bedroom flat can cost between N2 million and N3 million per year. He blamed this on poor housing policies and a lack of regulation.
It was concluded that the housing crisis is not just an economic problem, but a serious issue that affects the well-being of Nigerians.
He urged the government to create smart policies that will make safe and affordable housing available to more people.