Stakeholders have stressed the urgent need for affordable housing policies, inclusive urban planning, and sustainable city development to meet the aspirations of Nigeria’s youthful population.
The call was made at a commemorative event for the International Youth Day 2025, themed “An Evening with the Future: Youth, Urbanisation and Global Possibilities,” convened by HipCity Innovation Centre in Abuja.
The high-level dialogue brought together representatives of diplomatic missions, the Federal Ministry of Housing and Urban Development, Federal Capital Development Authority (FCDA), FCT Department of Mass Housing, Urban and Regional Planning Department, Area Council Services Secretariat, youth groups, and civil society organisations.
In his keynote remarks, Executive Director of HipCity Innovation Centre, Bassey Bassey, warned that without deliberate policy interventions, the gap between Nigeria’s fast-growing youth population and opportunities in city life would continue to widen.
He lamented that skyrocketing housing costs have made it nearly impossible for young people to secure decent homes, noting that even a year’s minimum wage is no longer enough to rent in properly planned neighborhoods.
“This economic reality is forcing thousands of young people into overcrowded, unplanned settlements lacking basic amenities,” Bassey said. “These areas remain vulnerable to sudden evictions and demolitions. The insecurity of tenure is a ticking social time bomb policymakers can no longer afford to ignore.”
Highlighting the contradictions of urban life, Bassey observed that many young Nigerians still describe moving from one neighborhood to another within the same city as “entering town,” underscoring their exclusion from the benefits of urban living.
“We claim to live in the city, but the truth is that most young persons are, in reality, villagers in the city. They hustle and sleep here but are shut out of the opportunities, services, and dignity that true urban citizenship should provide,” he said.
He further warned that poor housing, rising food prices, unsafe public spaces, and exclusion from urban planning processes are eroding the quality of life for young people and mounting pressure on their mental health.
Responding, the Minister of Housing and Urban Development, Arc Ahmed Dangiwa, reaffirmed the Federal Government’s commitment to bridging Nigeria’s housing deficit.
Represented by the Director of Urban Renewal and Slum Upgrade, Hashimu Sa’idu, Dangiwa said new policies would expand affordable housing schemes, widen access to mortgage financing, and strengthen collaboration with states and the private sector.
He stressed that inclusive urban planning is central to building sustainable cities, assuring participants that youth groups and civil society would continue to be engaged in shaping responsive housing policies.
Diplomatic representatives from Mexico, Uganda, and other international partners also pledged support for Nigeria’s efforts, particularly in advancing green infrastructure, climate-smart housing, and skills development for urban youth.
The forum ended with a collective call for stronger partnerships among government agencies, development partners, and youth-led organisations to ensure Nigerian cities of the future are inclusive, livable, and resilient.
