Sustainable Community Development in Nigeria: The Role of Real Estate Development

Access to shelter is one of the basic human needs for survival and has a direct bearing on the pattern of development of a community. To enhance the development of a community in a manner that is environmentally, economically and socially sustainable, all aspects of real estate development must be evaluated. In this case, real estate practitioners and urban planners, two professions that are traditionally practiced in disconnect, will need to cooperate on what constitutes sustainable practice. In Nigeria, like in many developing countries, accommodation forms one of the biggest challenges, particularly in growing urban centers. As a result, intervention programs abound in Nigeria to stimulate development in various local communities involving the development of properties for the purpose of public housing, health centers, markets and hospitality, among others. The question often left unanswered is whether such developments are executed and administered in a way that will not jeopardize the quality of the environment while trying to deliver the social and economic benefits to the community. This chapter examines the critical importance of environmental responsibility in real estate practice and sustainable community development in Nigeria.