By Musa Muhammad Kutama, Calabar
The Association of Housing Corporations of Nigeria (AHCN) has elected new officers to steer its affairs for the next two years.
The election, described as free and fair, was held during the Association’s 49th Annual General Meeting (AGM) and 114th Council Meeting, combined with a two-day workshop in Calabar, Cross River State.
Esv. Eno Obongha, Managing Director of the Cross River State Property and Investment Company Limited, was re-elected unopposed as President of the Association for a second term.
Other re-elected officers include Hon. Ayodeji Adebayo, Managing Director of the Lagos State Development and Property Corporation, as First Vice President; Mr. Abdullahi Rabiu, Managing Director of the Kano State Housing Corporation, as Second Vice President; and Mr. Daniel Makava, a Director at the Nigerian Building and Road Research Institute, as Secretary-General.
Also re-elected are Barr. Patrick Udomfang of Akwa Ibom Property and Investment Company as Auditor; Dr. Victor Onukwugha, former President of the Association, and Mr. Olusesan Obe, Managing Director of Centre Base Consult Limited, Lagos, as Ex-Officio members; and Dr. Anayo Edeh of the Enugu State Housing Development Corporation as Legal Adviser.
Meanwhile, Mr. Kolawole Aderogba, Managing Director of Abuja Property Development Company Limited, emerged as Financial Secretary, while Miss Stella Uzoma of Centre Base Consult was elected Treasurer. Arc. Babatunde Adeleke of the Lagos State Development and Property Corporation became Chairman of the Technical Committee.
Other officials include Mr. Emmanuel Abulele of Abuja Property Development Company Limited as Public Affairs Officer; Bldr. Mohammad Gana as Secretary of the Technical Committee; and Mr. Toye Eniola as Executive Secretary.
During the workshop, participants expressed concern over Nigeria’s worsening housing deficit, noting that affordability remains a major challenge despite increasing demand.
They observed that traditional affordable housing programmes are no longer sufficient to meet the country’s growing housing needs, calling for scalable solutions that ensure faster delivery and cost efficiency.
The meeting also highlighted the need for new frameworks and housing infrastructure funds to set clear production targets and finance housing development amid rapid urbanization, population growth, rising construction costs, and financing constraints.
Participants recalled the earlier era when housing corporations played a stronger role in delivering affordable housing and commended the Federal Government’s Renewed Hope Housing Initiative.
They, however, urged government to assign clearer roles to state housing corporations as key agencies for delivering social and affordable housing across the country.
The association also expressed concern over the housing shortage in major cities such as Abuja and Lagos, noting that many completed private housing units remain unoccupied due to unaffordability for low- and middle-income earners.
They therefore called on state governments to strengthen funding support for housing corporations to address the growing housing deficit.
