MONROVIA – Liberia’s housing gap is counted in hundreds of thousands of homes. The National Housing Authority (NHA) says about 200,000 new units are needed to ease overcrowding alone. A World Bank assessment puts the need at roughly 512,000 additional units by 2030. NHA Managing Director Hon. Florence K. Geegba now wants Liberians abroad to help close the gap. Her proposed portal targets two old problems: distrust in land deals and confusion over permits. She is also seeking a new NHA Act with broader power to regulate rents. Yet the two construction projects she described total only about 1,082 units. THE ANALYST reports
The National Housing Authority (NHA) has disclosed plans to establish a dedicated housing investment portal aimed at simplifying the process for Liberians in the diaspora seeking to invest in residential housing development in Liberia, while warning that the country’s growing housing deficit requires urgent and coordinated action.
NHA Managing Director Hon. Florence K. Geegba made the disclosure Tuesday at the regular press briefing of the Ministry of Information, Cultural Affairs and Tourism (MICAT) in Monrovia, where she outlined the Authority’s ongoing housing programs, land acquisition initiatives, diaspora investment plans and proposed reforms to strengthen the institution’s regulatory authority.
According to Geegba, Liberia currently requires approximately 200,000 new dwelling units to address overcrowding, while an additional 35,000 housing units are needed to keep pace with population growth.
She said the country also needs thousands of additional units annually to replace deteriorating housing stock. She further cited a World Bank assessment indicating that Liberia could require approximately 512,000 additional housing units by 2030.
The NHA Managing Director said the figures demonstrate the magnitude of Liberia’s housing challenge and the need for government, private investors, development partners and Liberians in the diaspora to work together to close the gap.
Geegba said the Authority has already received housing designs from four public-private partners, which are being incorporated into the NHA’s own designs. The designs currently include three-bedroom and two-bedroom units, as well as a two-bedroom duplex.
She explained that the designs have been approved by the Ministry of Public Works (MPW), allowing developers to proceed once the necessary processes are completed.
However, she emphasized that housing construction requires adherence to established procedures, including the preparation of building designs and bills of quantities, approval by the MPW and acquisition of the appropriate permits before construction begins.
She also noted that land development requires the necessary authorization from the Ministry of Finance and Development Planning (MFDP).
Portal for Diaspora Investors
A major component of the NHA’s new strategy, Geegba said, is the creation of a Housing Investment Portal specifically designed to assist Liberians living abroad who want to return home and invest in housing.
She said the initiative was developed following the recent ASPIRE conference in the United States, where the NHA engaged with Liberians in the diaspora and heard concerns about difficulties encountered by prospective investors.
According to her, some diaspora investors have faced challenges because of limited knowledge of Liberia’s land and housing development procedures, while others have reportedly paid multiple times for the same or related processes because they did not understand the system.
The NHA chief identified two major obstacles confronting diaspora investors: a trust deficit in land transactions and a knowledge gap regarding estate development processes.
To address these challenges, she said the proposed portal will serve as a single online access point through which investors can obtain information and services relating to land verification, permits, development requirements, cost calculations and directories of licensed professionals.
The digital platform, she explained, is intended to guide an investor from the initial inquiry through the completion of a housing project. The Authority also plans to develop an estate development roadmap written in simple language to guide investors through the various stages of residential development, from land acquisition to occupancy permits.
Geegba said the roadmap is particularly important for diaspora investors who may not be familiar with Liberia’s land, planning and permitting systems.
Pre-Verified Land Bank Planned
The NHA Managing Director further disclosed that the Authority is working with relevant government institutions to establish a pre-verified land bank for housing development.
She said the objective is to identify parcels of land that have already been verified and cleared by the Liberia Land Authority (LLA), thereby reducing the burden on individual investors to undertake lengthy land verification processes.
According to her, the NHA has negotiated and commenced the purchase of approximately 578 acres of land for housing development. She said some of the land is privately acquired, while other parcels have been made available to the Authority by the Government of Liberia.
The land holdings, she noted, cover several counties, including Bong, Nimba and Grand Kru, with surveys already conducted on some of the properties. The Authority is also exploring partnerships that could make land available to diaspora investors and other developers at free or discounted rates, depending on the arrangement.
Geegba said the broader vision is to develop planned communities rather than isolated houses, with residential areas integrated with essential services and facilities. Under the concept, she said, housing communities could include health centers, schools, markets, commercial facilities and other services depending on the size and location of the development.
Civil Servants Line Up for Homes
Providing an update on ongoing housing projects, Geegba disclosed that the NHA is preparing to move forward with the construction of 482 housing units, with a contract expected to be signed before the end of this week or early next week. She said preparations are also underway for a larger project involving approximately 600 housing units, including land clearing and soil testing.
The NHA chief said the Authority has already begun identifying prospective buyers or “off-takers” for the homes.
She disclosed that 3,340 civil servants have so far enrolled in the program, with information being collected on their salaries and the types of homes they are interested in acquiring.
The housing units, she explained, could be made available through different arrangements, including cash sales, mortgage financing and rent-to-own programs. The initiative, she said, is intended to ensure that the homes being constructed have identified beneficiaries while providing civil servants with opportunities to access decent and affordable housing.
Geegba also announced that the NHA is in discussions with an insurance company to introduce housing insurance as part of its housing development programs.
She said an agreement is expected to be formalized soon, with the insurance arrangement intended to cover homes constructed under NHA programs, including government-funded projects and public-private partnerships.
According to her, housing insurance is an important component of international housing development standards, and Liberia must move toward incorporating such standards into its housing sector.
New Law to Regulate Rents
Meanwhile, Geegba has called for the passage of a new law to strengthen the NHA and expand its regulatory powers. She said the NHA’s existing legal framework, dating back to the 1960s, does not provide the institution with sufficient authority to effectively regulate Liberia’s housing sector.
She disclosed that a new NHA Act has already gone through the required processes, including validation, and is awaiting submission to the National Legislature when it resumes. According to Geegba, the proposed legislation would give the NHA broader regulatory and monitoring powers over housing development in Liberia. One of the major areas the new legislation is expected to address is rent regulation.
She argued that the government needs stronger mechanisms to protect Liberians from excessive rental charges, particularly where landlords increase rents beyond what ordinary citizens can reasonably afford. The proposed law, she said, would also provide a legal basis for the establishment of a National Housing Trust Fund, which would be designed to mobilize and safeguard resources for housing development. Geegba said empowering the NHA is essential if the institution is to effectively respond to Liberia’s housing crisis and ensure that housing development is properly regulated.
Shelter Afrique Partnership Signed
The NHA Managing Director also highlighted the Authority’s growing engagement with international and development partners. She disclosed that the Authority has signed a memorandum of understanding with Shelter Afrique Development Bank to establish a framework for cooperation in affordable housing and sustainable urbanization in Liberia.
She noted that the partnership is expected to provide opportunities for collaboration in addressing the country’s housing needs.
Geegba also encouraged the public and potential investors to make use of the NHA’s online platforms to learn more about its activities and housing programs, indicating that greater visibility is necessary to ensure that Liberians, potential investors and international partners understand what the Authority is doing to expand housing opportunities across the country.
With Liberia facing a significant housing shortage and a rapidly growing demand for decent and affordable accommodation, the NHA says its ongoing land acquisition, housing construction, diaspora investment initiatives and proposed legal reforms are intended to lay the foundation for a more organized and accessible housing sector.
The Authority, Geegba emphasized, is seeking stronger institutional support and partnerships to ensure that the country can meet its housing needs while creating opportunities for Liberians at home and abroad to participate in the development of the sector.