Housing reform in Nigeria must move beyond policy rhetoric to measurable impact, and for Dr. Shuaib Belgore, the pathway is clear—stronger coordination, practical reforms, and sustained collaboration. As Permanent Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Housing and Urban Development, Belgore sees the National Council on Lands, Housing and Urban Development as a strategic engine for repositioning the built environment sector.
From his perspective, the future of housing delivery depends on aligning federal and state policies into a unified, results-driven framework. Fragmentation has slowed progress for years, but through strengthened intergovernmental collaboration, the council provides a platform to harmonise policies, eliminate duplication, and accelerate reforms that directly impact citizens.
Belgore maintains that the way forward must prioritise affordable housing at scale. This includes improving land administration systems to ensure access is transparent, efficient, and investment-friendly. Urban renewal efforts, he notes, should go beyond infrastructure upgrades to foster inclusive cities where economic opportunity and improved living standards are accessible to all.
He further emphasises the importance of promoting local building materials as a strategy to reduce construction costs, stimulate domestic industries, and create jobs. At the same time, expanding public-private partnerships remains essential to bridging Nigeria’s housing deficit by unlocking private sector capital and innovation.
Looking ahead, Belgore envisions council outcomes that go beyond deliberations to actionable policies. For him, success will be measured by real results—more homes delivered, stronger cities built, and a housing sector that truly supports national development and economic growth.
To achieve this, he calls for data-driven planning, stronger institutional capacity, and consistent monitoring mechanisms across all tiers of government, ensuring that policies translate into tangible outcomes for citizens nationwide and sustainable long-term sector growth and resilience overall for Nigeria.
