By Ubong Usoro
In the wake of growing calls for the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) to convert abandoned estates into mass housing, development expert Prof. Timothy Nubi has warned against simplistic or forceful approaches to property management in Nigeria’s capitalist economy.
In an exclusive interview with Pinnacle Daily, Prof. Nubi, a renowned professor of estate management and housing finance at the University of Lagos, emphasized the need for smart policy reforms, not arbitrary takeovers.
He said: “We are running a capitalist economy that is market-driven. No one can just take what belongs to another person.
“It is not written in the Constitution or any law I know. I am not aware of any Nigerian law that says if you don’t inhabit your house, the government can take it over.”
Vacant Houses: Policy Gap, Not Criminality
Reacting to petitions demanding the conversion of unoccupied estates like the BUA Estate in Kado District, Prof. Nubi said many property owners may be abroad or caught in legal or financial circumstances. According to him, the government should strengthen property taxation mechanisms instead of considering takeovers.
“Every house standing ought to be paying a land use charge, ground rent, development fee, or service charges, whether occupied or not,” he said.
“Just like a car parked but not driven still pays roadworthiness tax, the same logic should apply to property. If owners are paying rates on idle buildings, they’ll have a reason to rent them out or occupy them.”
He further explained that in places where property taxation is effective, unoccupied houses quickly return to use because of the cost implications to owners.
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Classifying Abandoned Properties: Completed vs. Uncompleted
Prof. Nubi urged the government to define and classify abandoned properties, separating completed but vacant estates from incomplete or stalled buildings.
“First, let’s define what is abandoned. Are they completed or uncompleted? The ones that are completed can be taxed to discourage hoarding,” he explained.
“For the uncompleted ones, which are in the majority, the government should talk to the owners and see how to support them. Let’s sit with these developers and ask: what’s stopping completion?”
Historical Solution: The 1977 Roofing Loan
He pointed to Nigeria’s 1977 roofing loan initiative as a successful example of how strategic government support helped thousands of homeowners complete and occupy buildings.
He said, “In 1977, when the government saw thousands of homes stalled at roofing level, they introduced a roofing loan. Within months, the housing stock increased. We can do the same today—offer house completion loans or incomplete building loans through mortgage banks.”
A Call for Balanced Legislation
Prof. Nubi also floated the idea of legislating a time-bound requirement for property use, differentiated by completion status.
“We can legislate and say within one or two years, all completed houses should not remain vacant, and uncompleted ones must show progress or be flagged for support or action.”
Use Law, Incentives, and Smart Taxation
Prof. Nubi stressed that while the housing crisis is real, solutions must be market-aligned, legally grounded, and people-centered.
“Let’s apply the right tax regimes to completed vacant homes so owners are encouraged to lease or sell them. For uncompleted buildings, offer incentives. That’s how we bring idle properties into the housing market, legally and sustainably”.
