Former Vice President Yemi Osinbajo has called for infrastructure-led planning to achieve inclusive housing and sustainable urban growth in Nigeria. Speaking at the Real Estate Outlook 2026 in Lagos, he highlighted the historic Bodija Estate in Ibadan as a model of deliberate, state-led planning that integrated social mix, green spaces, and proximity to jobs.
Osinbajo stressed that infrastructure-first development reduces housing costs, ensures sustainability, and fosters social cohesion. Roads, water, drainage, electricity, and schools were all delivered before residents moved in, making Bodija affordable and resilient even after decades.
He contrasted this with modern gated estates, which are often expensive, socially exclusive, and located far from employment centres. According to Osinbajo, the key barriers to inclusive housing are institutional—fragmented land ownership, high transaction costs, and underinvestment in public infrastructure.
To fix this, he proposed public-private partnerships where governments provide land, enforce inclusionary zoning, and deliver bulk infrastructure while private developers handle execution. He cited Borno State’s housing delivery as proof that inclusive housing is possible with political will.
“Planning first, infrastructure next, housing last” must become the guiding principle to make affordable homes available to all Nigerians.
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