Why Gated Communities Are Gaining Popularity and What It Reveals About Urban Nigeria
ESV Obiora Charles Okafor,
Gated communities are increasingly defining the urban landscape in Nigeria. Once the preserve of the wealthy elite, these private estates are now mushrooming in middle-income and even lower-income areas across cities like Lagos, Abuja, Ibadan, and Benin. From modest clusters of duplexes to mega-estates with hundreds of homes, the appeal of gated living is undeniable.
The primary driver of this trend is security. With rising incidents of burglary, armed robbery, and in some regions, kidnapping, Nigerians are no longer willing to leave their safety to chance. Gated communities typically offer perimeter fencing, controlled access, surveillance cameras, private guards, and in some cases, even armed security. For residents, this creates a sense of safety that is difficult to find in open neighborhoods.
But security is just the tip of the iceberg. Many gated communities also boast reliable infrastructure—paved roads, constant water supply, functional drainage, and electricity backup systems like solar panels or generators. These services fill the vacuum left by failing public utilities. In a typical city, residents of government-developed areas often grapple with poor road networks, flooding, waste management issues, and epileptic power supply. Gated communities offer an escape from this dysfunction.
There’s also a growing lifestyle component. Modern estates now include gyms, parks, swimming pools, supermarkets, and even schools—creating self-sufficient enclaves. Residents can enjoy modern urban living without needing to venture far beyond the estate gates. For families and professionals, this convenience is invaluable.
Yet, the growing popularity of gated communities raises a deeper concern: the gradual privatization of urban life. As more Nigerians “opt out” of public services by paying extra for private security, private roads, and private utilities, the pressure on government to deliver inclusive urban development weakens. We risk creating cities of exclusion—where only the financially privileged can enjoy a decent quality of life.
Moreover, as estates multiply, social cohesion may suffer. Gated communities tend to isolate people from the wider community, reducing interaction across social classes. This may breed distrust and reduce empathy, further fragmenting an already divided society.
It is time we ask: should people have to pay a premium to access basic infrastructure and security? The government must see the popularity of gated communities not as a sign of progress, but as an indictment of poor urban governance. While private developers should be encouraged to invest, we must not abandon the vision of inclusive cities where safety, services, and dignity are available to all. In all gated community is the way to go in Nigeria.
ESV Obiora Charles Okafor, an Abuja-based Estate Surveyor and Valuer, is the Principal Partner of Obiora Okafor & Associates.
