SHARE THIS:
Across many Sub-Saharan African countries, more than 55% of the population in cities live in slum-like conditions. With insufficient access to clean water and inadequate healthcare facilities, urban slums are more vulnerable to diseases such as the current COVID 19 pandemic. As of 27th April 2020, there are now more than 30,000 confirmed cases of COVID 19 across Africa. With over 3 million confirmed cases globally, health experts are fearing under-detection across Africa and the possible collapse of the fragile health care system in the eventuality of a massive outbreak.
To reduce transmission, City authorities are enforcing lockdowns and social distancing measures. Unfortunately, these measures are not feasible for the majority of Africans living in urban slums on less than $6 earned daily in the informal economy.
Realities of African urban areas amidst the pandemic
With global calls for self-isolation, many Africans are challenged with space limitations in their place of abode. In Nairobi, 6% of the city land is occupied by two-third of the total population while over 50% of occupants in Abidjan live three in one room. Also, more than 70% of families occupy a single room in Kampala. In Lagos where I reside, more than five people sleep in a room. These projects the possibility of virus widespread amongst occupants living in congested settlements.
For long, the rapid rural-urban migrations across Africa has been majorly associated with economic elements. Migrants move to urban areas with the ambitions of economic improvement. Most of their activities require manual labour and physical presence and cannot be executed remotely. As such, the social distancing measures reflect economic displacement for a lot of individuals. Many would resort to flouting the measures in search of their daily meal as exemplified in Kenya.
To cushion the economic effect of the COVID-19 outbreak, the government of major countries across Europe and the US have pledged financial support and regulatory cushions. Access to demographic data of their citizens has made economic monitoring and sharing of palliatives possible. On the contrary, many African governments do not have adequate information on their citizens which hinders support. The situation of statistical paucity is such that an African President is uncertain of the population size of his country.
Evaluating the silver-lining for African urban slums
In the face of disasters and pandemics, cities across the globe have reshaped themselves. Many of the iconic developments in urban planning and management have been influenced by outbreaks. Pandemics such as the Cholera outbreak influenced the development of mid-19th century sanitation systems in London. The 1920’s Bubonic plague facilitated stringent urban planning policies in Kumasi, Dakar, and Lagos. Just as America’s cities are also expected to change forever after the COVID 19 pandemic, the current pandemic presents an opportunity to reinvent African cities. Here are four strategies amongst others.
Increasing investment in Healthcare systems: African healthcare systems have been underfunded and technically starved. For example, Intensive Care Unit (ICU) beds across many African countries are less than two dozen in number and some countries do not have Ventilators required. The government and health parastatals must now prioritize investment in health systems across Africa. Innovations that support smarter health delivery should be promoted.
Innovative financing for infrastructure development: The infrastructure deficit across Africa is huge. The AfDB expressed that about $170 billion is needed yearly to bridge the gap. African urban areas need to harness the potentials of the informal sector to generate capital. Policies that support public-private partnership, investment assurance and seamless mortgage access should be enacted to encourage increased foreign and domestic investment.
Advancing digital and smart infrastructure: the potentials that the Fourth Industrial Revolution is bringing to cities across the world needs to be incorporated into African cities. New technologies and smart cities infrastructure can help improve urban living. These include IoT sensors, Satellites, Solar systems, and other indigenous innovation. WhereIsMyTransport, based in South Africa, is using technology to provide sustainable urban mobility solutions across African cities.
Promoting safe and sustainable affordable housing: The development of affordable housing is rising across Africa. Family Homes Funds, the largest housing fund in Sub-Saharan Africa, is looking to develop 500,000 housing units within 5 years. Housing professionals across Africa must now pay attention to providing safe and sustainable housing units that provide quality living for occupants. Adequate water and sewage infrastructure must also be incorporated into cities to ensure sustainable cities and communities towards achieving SDG 11.
More than 1.3 billion people would live in African cities by 2050. The COVID 19 outbreak is only a foretaste of challenges that will be facing African cities. An adequately planned urban area is designed to foresee and manage pandemics. In shaping the African urban future, the government, urban planners, designers and development professionals have a responsibility to embark on strategic approaches to urban development. The greatest minds in urban planning, sustainability, resilience and public policy are required to decide the quality of life for the future African urban occupant.
Moses Itanola is a Quantity Surveyor and BIM Specialist with interests in sustainability and technology in the African Construction Industry. He is a Researcher, Advocate & Trainer exploring the use of AR, VR, UAVs, and BIM-compliant Construction Management software. He serves as the Executive Director of BIM Africa and a Project Associate with Family Homes Funds Limited. Aside Construction and Technology, you’ll find him playing the Theobald Boehm’s Flute.
Drawing Inspiration from our MandateExecuting developmental projects are increasingly becoming complex because of the unintended negative externalities associated with them and the far-reaching impact...
September 12, 2023
Rating agency, Agusto & Co. has announced the upgrade of the rating assigned to Family Homes Funds Limited (FHFL) from ‘’A’’ to ‘’A+’’.The upgrade, according to the pan-African leader ...
August 28, 2023
Family Homes Funds Limited (FHFL) has held the 2023 edition of the Human Resources (HR) Week featuring transformative team building activities. With diverse backgrounds and talents, the team embarked...
August 14, 2023
The 17th Africa International Housing Show - a week long conference and exhibition for stakeholders in the housing sector was concluded at an important dinner on Thursday where Family Homes Funds Lim...
July 27, 2023
Abuja, Nigeria – Recently, a significant meeting was held between Family Homes Funds Limited (FHFL) and the African Development Bank (AfDB) on the Help to Own (HTO) program that will increase home o...
June 20, 2023
Family Homes Funds Limited (FHFL) – Nigeria’s largest supporter of affordable housing, and Gombe State Government have closed on financing and commenced construction of a new project delivering 6...
May 10, 2023
Family Homes Funds Limited is one of the winners of the IFN deals of the year – the global Islamic finance and banking industry’s most prestigious honours.FHFL’s series II N20bn Corporate Suku...
March 24, 2023
President Muhammadu Buhari has officially commissioned the Family Homes Estate in Darmanawa, Kano state for low-income families. The ceremony which took place on Monday 30th January 2023 marks a ne...
March 24, 2023
Abuja, Nigeria – Family Homes Funds Limited (FHFL) has been named the Affordable Housing Company of the Year at the 2022 Africa Housing Awards (AHA).The awards ceremony which took place on Thursday...
March 24, 2023
Five hundred new homes financed by Family Homes Funds Limited (FHFL) in partnership with the Kano state government have been presented to the beneficiaries in Kano state. The official presentation of...
December 12, 2022
On Thursday, December 1, 2022, a delegation from the Association of Housing Corporations of Nigeria led by the President, Victor Onukwugha paid a courtesy call to the Family Homes Funds Limited (FHFL...
December 02, 2022
The Association of Housing Corporations of Nigeria (AHCN) has awarded Family Homes Funds Limited (FHFL) the Affordable Housing Finance Company of the Year. The award was presented to FHFL at the just...
November 06, 2022
FHFL has successfully retained its strong GCR Rating BBB+/A2 — for a further one year with stable outlook. Recall that FHFL was upgraded by Agusto & Co. to an ‘A’ rating valid until 30 June 202...
November 04, 2022
Abuja, Nigeria. October 21, 2022 – The Board of Directors of the Family Homes Funds Limited (FHFL) announces the retirement of Mr. Femi Adewole from the position of Managing Director of FHFL upon t...
October 21, 2022
Abuja, Nigeria – The Shareholders of Family Homes Funds Limited (FHFL) have approved the 2021 audited financials of the social housing institution. The Company’s Annual General Meeting (AGM) even...
October 20, 2022
According to a 2021 study by the World Bank, Nigerian cities are now home to about 53% of the population, approximately 110 million people. By 2050, this number, according to the UN Population Migrat...
October 07, 2022
An impactful engagement with housing stakeholders in Lagos. FHFL continues to engage with the experience and expertise of stakeholders in the sector as it works collaboratively to address poverty and...
September 16, 2022
Agusto & Co has upgraded its credit rating of the Family Homes Funds Limited (FHFL) from ‘’BBB’’ to ‘’A’’ The pan-African leader in credit ratings and credit reports has announced tha...
August 26, 2022
Family Homes Funds Ltd. (FHFL) is a limited liability company with the Federal Ministry of Finance and the Nigerian Sovereign Investment Authority as founding shareholders. FHFL will be the largest a...
July 22, 2022
The Family Homes Funds is a social housing initiative promoted by the Federal Government of Nigeria as part of its Social Intervention Programme. The Company is a Limited Liability Company with initi...
June 18, 2022
Family Homes Funds Ltd. (FHFL) is a limited liability company with the Federal Ministry of Finance and the Nigerian Sovereign Investment Authority as founding shareholders. FHFL will be the largest a...
April 29, 2022
Nigeria’s largest social housing fund, Family Homes Funds Limited (FHFL) is announcing an investment of over N19.9bn across 6 states in Nigeria, for the development of 2,754 homes for low-income fa...
April 08, 2022
Family Homes Funds Limited (FHFL) has announced an investment of N3.9bn (approximately N4bn) in Kebbi state (Northwest Nigeria) to kick-off the development of 620 homes for low-income families. The a...
January 26, 2022
The Family Homes Funds Limited (FHFL) has been awarded for the Housing Intervention Program of the Year at the 2021 Africa Housing Awards. The award which took place on Friday, 10th December 2021 at ...
December 16, 2021
The Governor of Kano State, His Excellency, Dr. Abdullahi Ganduje has applauded the quality and importance of the Family Homes Funds affordable housing projects in the state. The Governor made this k...
December 16, 2021
The Nigerian Senate Committee on Housing has commended the Family Homes Funds Limited (FHFL) efforts in enhancing affordable home ownership for low-income earners in Nigeria through its affordable ho...
December 16, 2021
Family Homes Funds Ltd. (FHFL) is a limited liability company with the Federal Ministry of Finance and the Nigerian Sovereign Investment Authority as founding shareholders. FHFL will be the largest a...
December 09, 2021
The Family Homes Funds’ Corporate Sukuk Issuance in July 2021 has been named the Islamic Finance Deal of the Year in Nigeria at the African International Conference on Islamic Finance (5th AICIF) o...
November 10, 2021
Family Homes Funds Limited (FHFL), and Agence Française de Développement (AFD), also known as the French Development Agency have agreed on a partnership to carry out a detailed study ahead of a sub...
November 10, 2021
The Governor of Bauchi state, Bala Mohammed, has applauded President Muhammadu Buhari’s government for its affordable housing programmes that are being implemented by the Family Homes Funds Limited...
November 05, 2021
The Family Homes Funds Limited (FHFL) has been ranked first in the latest Transparency and Integrity Index released by the Centre for Fiscal Transparency and Integrity Watch (CEFTIW). The Center for ...
October 05, 2021
FHFL Board approves financing for 4,201 homes for the first phaseConstruction work begins in September in seven states The Board of the Family Homes Funds has approved financing for about 4,201 homes...
September 15, 2021
As Nigeria and many African countries contend with a severe housing shortage, the Managing Director of Family Homes Funds Limited (FHFL), Femi Adewole has recommended more window of opportunities tha...
September 15, 2021
1,000 homes financed by FHFL now commissioned in the state for low-income earners, IDPs Previously displaced persons and low-income earners in Ngamdu town in Kaga Local Government Area of Borno state...
August 08, 2021
Family Homes Funds Limited through Family Homes Sukuk Issuance Program Plc – has successfully completed the issuance of N10,000,000,000 7 Year 13% Series 1 Ijara Lease Sukuk due 2028 (“Series I S...
July 17, 2021
Hundreds of families in Borno State are set for a new and happier life as Nigeria’s leading social housing finance Institution, Family Homes Funds Limited (FHFL) completes 700 new homes for low-inc...
June 03, 2021
Nigeria’s largest social housing fund, Family Homes Funds Limited (FHFL), the Federal Mortgage Bank of Nigeria (FMBN) and Nasarawa state government have agreed on a partnership that will enable the...
May 19, 2021
Last month marked the second work anniversary for Israel Bulus at Family Homes Funds Limited (FHFL) project site in Kaduna state. The past two years have been a rewarding experience; challenging and ...
May 05, 2021
Sitting on a pile of concrete slabs, and sipping from a bottle of water, Jibril is very excited to finally take off his safety helmet and talk about the opportunity of earning a decent living after a...
March 30, 2021
One of the most pressing needs in Nigeria is housing. We have, in recent times, borne witness to the rise of informal settlements in unsafe environments and a rapidly increasing rate of homelessness....
March 23, 2021
Family Homes Funds affordable housing projects comprising of 3,820 homes have advanced to levels that are inspiring hope for the communities and would-be beneficiaries in Bauchi and Yobe states. Rece...
March 12, 2021
About 1,000 artisans and craftsmen from the 17 local government areas of Yobe state have benefited from a capacity development and skills acquisition Programme organized by the state government in pa...
March 03, 2021
As the National Social Housing Programme (NSHP) that plans to build 300,000 houses affordable houses for low-income earners across the country continues to gain momentum, more states are signing up f...
March 02, 2021
Ebonyi state has become the latest state to show interest in the National Social Housing Programme (NSHP) that plans to build 300,000 affordable houses for low-income earners across the country. At l...
February 24, 2021
Background The Family Homes Funds Ltd is a Social Housing Finance Company. The Company aims to improve access to affordable houses for Nigerians on low income through financial support for public and...
February 18, 2021
The first phase of the development of 2,500 housing units in Bauchi state by Family Homes Funds will be ready for occupiers in May 2021. Project reports confirm that 1,220 units of the total 2,500 un...
February 01, 2021
In Malkohi, Yola South local government area of Adamawa state, project contractors have been mobilized and have begun the construction of 1,000 units’ affordable houses for low- and middle-income e...
January 29, 2021
Family Homes Funds Limited has reached an agreement with Solar Home System Providers to provide off-grid solar power to all houses under the National Social Housing Programme (NSHP). The off-grid pow...
January 27, 2021