Expert Advocates Real Estate Development as Long-Term Solution to Nigeria’s Insecurity

Nigeria’s worsening security situation, characterised by rising cases of kidnapping, armed robbery, urban crime and communal violence, has continued to raise concerns about the country’s long-term stability and economic growth. While security debates often focus on military action and policing, industry experts are now drawing attention to a less discussed but strategic solution: real estate development and effective land management.

Speaking on the issue, Prince (Engr.) Ugwu Osita Godfrey, Managing Director of WhiteRock Homes and Property Ltd, said Nigeria’s real estate sector holds untapped potential to address the root causes of insecurity, including poverty, unemployment and poorly planned environments.

According to available data, Nigeria faces a housing deficit of over 20 million units, forcing millions of citizens into overcrowded slums and unplanned settlements on the fringes of major cities. These areas, often lacking basic infrastructure and difficult to police, have become hotspots for cultism, drug abuse and organised crime.

Godfrey noted that structured housing developments encourage ownership, accountability and collective vigilance among residents. “When people own their homes and environments, they naturally protect them, creating built-in community security,” he said.

He further pointed out that neglected bushes, abandoned plots and undeveloped lands around residential areas often serve as hideouts and escape routes for criminals. In many communities, fear is heightened not only by criminal activity but by the unchecked vegetation that conceals offenders.

“Clean, open spaces deter crime by eliminating hiding places and improving natural surveillance,” Godfrey explained, adding that deliberate land clearing, fencing, landscaping and improved visibility should be prioritised in both urban and semi-urban developments.

Poor urban planning also remains a major contributor to insecurity, with narrow roads, poor drainage, lack of streetlights and uncontrolled access points slowing down security responses. Godfrey argued that estates designed with wide road networks, proper lighting and controlled entry points make crime prevention and emergency intervention easier.

“Urban planning should be elevated to a national security priority, not just an infrastructural one,” he said.

Beyond physical planning, the real estate sector also offers significant job creation opportunities. From engineers and surveyors to artisans, labourers and estate security personnel, the industry has the capacity to absorb thousands of young Nigerians. With youth unemployment often linked to rising crime, experts believe housing development can play a stabilising role.

“An employed young person is far less likely to turn to crime; every estate built reduces the pool of idle, vulnerable youths,” Godfrey stated.

He called for a coordinated approach involving government, private developers and host communities. According to him, government must improve infrastructure, simplify land administration, enforce planning regulations and support affordable housing through incentives and public-private partnerships. Developers, he added, should focus on inclusive and security-conscious designs rather than luxury projects alone, while communities must take responsibility for maintaining their environments.

“We all have roles—government in policy, developers in execution, and residents in stewardship,” Godfrey said.

As Nigeria continues to search for sustainable solutions to insecurity, stakeholders argue that real estate should be viewed beyond shelter provision. Properly planned cities and managed lands, they say, promote safety, dignity and social stability.

“If we build our cities right, crime reduces naturally. If we manage our land properly, insecurity loses its hiding places. Real estate is Nigeria’s silent but powerful weapon against insecurity,” Godfrey concluded.