Brit Properties Nigeria Limited, a subsidiary of Brit Holdings Nigeria Limited, has reaffirmed its commitment to transforming housing delivery in Nigeria and across Africa through smart technology, indigenous innovation and affordable housing systems as the company marks its 16th anniversary.
Speaking during an exclusive interview, Dr Nkem Mordi Kenneth, popularly known as the “Mayor of Housing,” said trust remains the most valuable currency in the real estate sector, stressing that credibility and transparency have become critical pillars in the industry.
“I don’t sell property; I sell trust. Brit Properties sells trust,” she stated.
According to her, the growing trust deficit in society has made integrity increasingly valuable in the housing business.
“The more trust deficit in Nigeria, the more premium trust becomes,” she added.
The housing expert explained that the company’s philosophy is anchored on innovation, accountability and long-term sustainability, noting that every Brit Properties project is deliberately designed to stand out from conventional developments in the market.
“We always balance our developments and products with innovation you cannot find in the market. If you can find it elsewhere, don’t buy from us,” she said.
She disclosed that the company currently operates across three housing categories, including luxury “Phantom Series” smart cities, middle-class smart estates and low-cost mini-city developments aimed at expanding affordable housing opportunities for Nigerians and Africans.
As part of its innovation drive and activities marking its 16th anniversary, she said the company is also developing hydrogen-powered estates expected to provide electricity at rates cheaper than the national grid.
The “Mayor of Housing” argued that Nigeria’s housing crisis cannot be solved through politically motivated interventions, but through strategic planning, local industrial growth and functional public-private partnerships.
“The solution to housing in Nigeria is functional PPP, not political PPP. When partnerships are political, projects collapse with political transitions,” she said.
She attributed rising housing costs largely to Nigeria’s heavy dependence on imported construction materials, revealing that nearly 90 per cent of building materials used in the country are imported.
According to her, this dependence has left the housing sector highly vulnerable to economic shocks and exchange rate instability.
To address the challenge, she called for the establishment of special industrial zones dedicated to the local production of construction materials such as ceramics, glass and other building components.
“We have the best sand for glass and ceramics, but industries are collapsing because of energy costs. If materials are produced locally, housing prices will naturally drop,” she stated.
She also advocated reforms in land administration, urging governments to subsidise land acquisition for civil servants and low-income earners through existing provisions within the Land Use Act.
Beyond conventional construction methods, the real estate executive encouraged a return to indigenous building technologies using clay bricks, bamboo and other locally sourced materials, which she described as durable and cost-effective alternatives.
“Who told us bamboo is not as strong as steel?” she queried.
On housing finance, she argued that Nigeria’s economic realities make Western-style mortgage systems difficult to sustain.
Instead, she proposed a thrift-based housing model rooted in traditional savings culture, which she believes would enable traders, artisans and low-income earners to gradually work toward home ownership.
“Nigeria and Africa were not built on mortgage culture; they were built on thrift culture,” she explained.
She further disclosed that profits from the company’s luxury smart city projects are currently being invested in research and development aimed at creating affordable indigenous housing solutions for a wider population.
According to her, the long-term goal is to build a sustainable housing ecosystem where affordability, accessibility and innovation work together to significantly reduce homelessness across Nigeria and Africa.
