Demand for affordable housing in Nigeria is soaring due to massive shortage of new low cost
housing units on the market as a result of inadequate housing finance and the Government
tactical withdrawal from direct housing provision. Worst hit by the housing needs is the lowincome
groups who cannot afford out-right purchase of houses. This has brought about a
paradigm shift in the Nigerian Housing Policy focus to a public-private participation concept.
This concept provides for the private sector as the engine room and leading agent of
development with government providing enabling environment. This policy shift formed the
basis of the current housing reforms of 2002 to enhance the development of the sector and
make housing available to the people. This paper presents an overview of Nigeria housing
development programmes of the latest National Housing Policy and positions the affordable
housing provision reforms within it. The effects on the overall sustainable development of
Nigeria are discussed and some conclusions drawn.