The Executive Director of the Housing Development Advocacy Network, Festus Adebayo, has called on the incoming administration to prioritize housing for Nigerian youths as a means of curbing the exodus of young intellectuals to foreign countries. He emphasized that a radical strategy is needed to reduce homelessness through mass‑housing programmes. In a statement released to journalists on Saturday, Adebayo explained that shelter is critical to a nation’s economic growth and development because it influences key macro‑economic indicators such as employment, savings, investment and labour productivity. Consequently, housing should be treated as a priority rather than a political stunt, with a genuine commitment to improving citizens’ welfare through resilient and decent housing initiatives for young people.
Adebayo proposed the creation of a “Not Too Young to Own a Home” scheme aimed at increasing youth productivity. He argued that coupling housing policies with agricultural initiatives would help mitigate the “Japa” phenomenon and curb rural‑to‑urban migration. “Some of these youths who are angry have resorted to the popular trend ‘Japa’. When you create hope for them, they can remain in the country and join the workforce,” he said. Referring to the recent elections, he noted the evident frustration among Nigerian youths and urged the government to give them more attention through housing and agriculture programmes. He strongly recommended that the new administration adopt the “Not Too Young to Own a Home” scheme to address this challenge.
Adebayo also advised the President‑Elect to ensure that the Central Bank of Nigeria intensifies efforts to strengthen the country’s mortgage system. He cautioned that the government should not engage directly in housing construction; instead, it should collaborate with credible developers with proven track records and regulate real‑estate practices to promote professionalism in the sector. Additionally, he called for engagement with cement manufacturers to curb the continual rise in building‑material prices, noting that a robust mortgage system would significantly reduce corruption within the civil service.
Finally, Adebayo stressed the need for radical perspectives from key stakeholders and relevant government agencies to secure land availability, improve regulations and introduce professional inputs that lower sector costs. He urged swift development of these measures to create a sustainable housing environment for Nigeria’s youth.
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