Inclusive Housing Impossible Without Infrastructure Reform

Former Vice President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, has called for an inclusive approach to unlocking dormant land and infrastructure assets as a pathway to sustainable real estate development in Nigeria.

Osinbajo made the call while delivering the keynote address at the 2026 WEMABOD Real Estate Outlook Conference, where he urged stakeholders, particularly private-sector players, to take the lead in deepening collaboration to drive inclusive infrastructure and achieve sustainable national housing outcomes.

The conference, themed “Unlocking Land and Infrastructure for Inclusive Housing: A Regional Agenda for Sustainable Urban Growth,” brought together industry stakeholders, including representatives of Rehoovoot, a real estate investment and property consultancy firm.

Participants underscored the national importance of returning to deliberate, state-led planning and infrastructure-driven development as a foundation for inclusive housing delivery.

Drawing extensively from the historic Bodija Estate development in Ibadan, Osinbajo described it as a practical model for inclusive, infrastructure-led housing.

“Bodija’s most radical achievement was its deliberate social mix,” he said, noting that the estate accommodated middle-income earners alongside senior professionals without segregation.

According to him, social integration at Bodija was intentional rather than accidental, as infrastructure was treated as a public good rather than a private burden.

“Infrastructure quietly subsidised affordability by reducing the cost of living for residents who did not have to self-provide basic services,” Osinbajo explained.

He contrasted this approach with many contemporary housing developments, observing that while modern private estates have embraced the infrastructure-first principle, housing remains unaffordable because infrastructure costs are fully internalised and capitalised into house prices.

“This makes inclusion structurally impossible,” he added.

Stakeholders at the conference also identified the urgent need to unlock dormant land assets as a catalyst for inclusive infrastructure and sustainable housing outcomes.

Echoing this perspective, the Managing Partner of Rehoovoot, Akinbinu Samuel, emphasised the importance of intentional and long-term thinking within Nigeria’s real estate ecosystem.

“Land and infrastructure are the foundation of sustainable housing, but unlocking them requires more than capital. It demands vision, structure, and responsible advisory,” he said.

Samuel noted that Rehoovoot is deliberate in identifying viable land assets, guiding investors through compliant land banking strategies, and supporting developments that align with existing and planned infrastructure.

“Inclusive housing will only be achieved when land access, planning, and investment are approached holistically,” he added..

Rehoovoot’s work across strategic land acquisition, advisory services, and property management reflects a growing commitment to de-risking real estate investment, improving land transparency, and enabling developments that respond to Nigeria’s evolving urban and housing needs.

The firm’s participation at the 2026 conference further reinforced its positioning as a forward-thinking real estate consultancy, actively shaping conversations around land access, infrastructure-led development, and inclusive housing delivery in Nigeria.