The president of the Real Estate Developers Association of Nigeria (REDAN), Akintoye Adeoye, has called for stronger regulation of Nigeria’s built environment to curb building collapse and promote sustainable housing development.

Mr Adeoye made the call during a presentation at the ongoing stakeholders’ validation workshop on the National Housing Data Programme and the National Housing and Built Environment Regulation Policy in Abuja.

Mr Adeoye, the traditional ruler of the Okeigbo community in Ondo State, said effective regulation remains critical to ensuring safety, order and sustainability in the housing sector.

He warned that weak enforcement of standards continued to fuel building collapse, poor urban planning and other challenges.

“We cannot speak of housing without addressing the environment in which it exists. The regulation of the built environment is the glue that holds all of us together.

“Without proper regulation, we face the spectre of disruption, blight, building collapse, poor urban planning and all the negative actions associated with that,” he said.

According to the REDAN president, transparent and effective regulation would create a framework that protects lives and property, boosts investor confidence and supports sustainable urban development.

“With effective, transparent and ideal regulation, we create a framework that protects lives, attracts investment and ensures that our cities are sustainable engines of economic growth,” he said.

Mr Adeoye also stressed the importance of credible housing data, describing the validation of the National Housing Data Programme as a major milestone toward evidence-based planning and improved housing delivery.

He noted that Nigeria’s housing sector had operated for decades with inadequate data despite its huge housing deficit and enormous development potential.

The traditional ruler said the development had forced policymakers and investors to rely on estimates rather than facts.

“For decades, the Nigerian housing sector has been characterised by a paradox. We have a massive deficit and immense potential, yet we often operate in a data vacuum. We have relied on estimates where we needed facts and assumptions where we needed evidence,” he said.

He described the National Housing Data Programme as the foundation for a more responsive and resilient housing market.

According to him, accurate data will strengthen government planning, guide investment decisions and improve housing delivery nationwide.

Mr Adeoye urged stakeholders to collaborate with the Federal Ministry of Housing and Urban Development to ensure the successful implementation of the National Housing Data Programme and the National Housing and Built Environment Regulation Policy.

(NAN)