AGP Executive Report

Building Safety: Kenya’s Cabinet approved a bill requiring annual licences for architects and quantity surveyors and allowing site inspections. False registration could bring a KSh2 million fine or up to two years in prison. Industrial Property: A 25-year lease gives Freeport Saldanha access to 55 hectares at the South African port, supporting a pipeline of proposed investments valued at R6.9 billion. Affordable Housing Finance: ShafDB launched a FCFA60 billion bond on the West African regional market to fund affordable housing. Housing Delivery: Kwara inaugurated a 464-unit estate for civil servants and traders, while a Nigerian firm announced a $150 million, 20-storey Abuja condominium project. Kenya Development: President William Ruto’s 11-day North Rift tour includes affordable housing, roads and title deed issuance across six counties.

Affordable Housing Finance: Shelter Afrique Development Bank launched a FCFA 60 billion sustainable bond to fund affordable, energy-efficient housing and urban development across West Africa. Abuja Development: Periwinkle Empire unveiled a $150 million, 20-storey condominium project, adding a major high-rise scheme to Nigeria’s capital. Land and Planning: Lagos is turning to GIS, AI and LiDAR to address land and planning challenges, as experts raise concerns over disputed property titles and alleged land-title laundering. Market Watch: Cape Town property prices rose 11.5%, while Kenyan developers warn that high borrowing costs are worsening the rental-housing squeeze.

Nigeria: Periwinkle Empire and Prime Luxury Address have agreed to develop Royalties Abuja, a planned $150 million, 20-storey residential tower in the capital’s business district. South Africa: Office vacancies fell to 11.8% in the third quarter, a six-year low, though the recovery remains uneven; Cape Town property prices rose 11.5%. Housing Delivery: Kwara inaugurated a 464-unit estate, while Shelter Afrique raised 60 billion CFA francs to finance affordable housing in West Africa. Kenya: Developers say costly loans are worsening the rental housing squeeze, as buyers remain stranded by delays at the Sh600 million Jeevanjee project. Hospitality: IHG is entering Kenya with a 112-suite Nairobi property, adding to investment in the region’s hotel market.

** stalled Nairobi Project:** Buyers in the Jeevanjee affordable housing scheme are demanding answers after construction stopped in 2022. Takwa SACCO says it paid about Sh387 million toward 200 apartments, but members are still waiting for homes and a clear completion plan. New Housing Supply: Kwara has inaugurated 464 homes for civil servants and traders, while Nigeria’s Renewed Hope Cities programme has drawn more than 100,000 expressions of interest and is expanding mortgage access. Kenya’s Rental Squeeze: Developers say costly loans are worsening the shortage of rental housing, as more households are pushed into unsafe homes. Affordable Housing Finance: Shelter Afrique has raised 60 billion CFA francs on the WAEMU market to fund affordable housing, adding fresh financing as the region’s housing needs grow.

Housing Safety: More than half of Kenyans accept unsafe housing because safer homes are unaffordable or unavailable, a new study finds, leaving households exposed to insecure structures and extreme-weather risks. Property Rights: A Kenyan court rejected six Cytonn-linked firms’ challenge to cancelled titles on properties in Nairobi, Kiambu and Machakos. The state remains custodian, but Supreme Court orders still block their sale. Housing Finance: Saccos directed about KSh20 billion of new lending in 2025 to land and homes—37.3% of total new credit—as members increasingly use mortgage-refinance funding. Construction Pipeline: Kenya’s construction projects are estimated at $26 billion, 64.4% of identified project value in East Africa, drawing interest from international suppliers. Affordable Housing: Shelter Afrique raised CFA60 billion on the WAEMU market to finance affordable housing, while Kwara State inaugurated a 464-unit estate for civil servants and traders.

Industrial Infrastructure & MSMEs (Kenya): Kenya’s Constituency Industrial Development Centres are struggling to become fully viable due to infrastructure, funding, and power gaps—only 152 of 235 centres are fully operational, with electricity and land disputes among the blockers. Retail & Capital Markets (Kenya): Safaricom’s Ziidi Trader platform is drawing heavy investor traffic as Quickmart’s IPO launches on the NSE, highlighting mobile access to share trading. Urban Mobility (Kenya): KURA says construction has started on Nairobi’s BRT Line 5 corridor (Allsops to Taj Mall), with the contractor already mobilising after earlier delays. Housing Affordability (South Africa): A South African survey flags falling home-loan ownership and fewer credit products, while higher borrowing costs are expected to pressure festive-season housing demand. Local Governance & Accountability (South Africa): My Vote Counts launches a tool for voters to judge parties and councillors on municipal service delivery ahead of the Nov 4 local elections. Energy & Big Projects (Kenya): Afreximbank says the Dangote-backed Lamu refinery is key to conserving Kenya’s foreign exchange reserves, while a Kenyan senator files a petition demanding full public disclosure of refinery agreements. Construction & Real Estate Finance (South Africa): Parliament is pushing for accountability as South Africa opens Telkom Towers redevelopment to private investment via an RFI, targeting jobs and new leasable space. Labour & Property-Adjacent Risk (Nigeria): Port Harcourt Refining Company support staff threaten a shutdown over seven months of unpaid salaries, adding pressure to operations at a major industrial site. Built-Environment Recognition: Big 5 Global Impact Awards 2026 names 100+ finalists across construction and urban development, including entries from Nigeria and across North Africa.

Court & Property Disputes: In Eldoret, a former MP and lawyer faced drama at the Lands and Environment Court as a Sh30m property case turned on refusal to answer questions during cross-examination. Project Delivery & Accountability: Nigeria’s ₦12.79bn Ayegun-Oloye road in Ibadan is under fire as residents say drainage works are already failing; separate scrutiny in Edo and Adamawa flags about ₦13bn in federal projects assigned to agencies that may not match their statutory mandates. Infrastructure Rebuilds: Nigeria’s aviation ministry ordered China’s CCECC to restart Abuja airport’s second runway, with costs now put at nearly ₦400bn after long delays. Energy & Land Use: Uganda’s MPs toured EACOP and key oil sites ahead of first oil, while Tanzania’s environment committee visited EACOP facilities to track readiness. Housing & Construction Pipeline: Kenya’s Deputy President Kindiki inspected KMTC Kiambaa works and announced a Sh290m hostel plus a second phase of the tuition block. Health & Public Trust: Kenya confirmed its first Ebola death linked to the DRC, triggering contact tracing and renewed border-health focus.

Lagos Built Environment & Safety: A Lagos building collapse at Alakija (Amuwo-Odofin) killed eight and injured 26, reigniting calls for tougher building regulation, regular inspections and stronger enforcement. Digital Property Payments: Lagos State Development and Property Corporation (LSDPC) launched its 24/7 PayPortal for online payments with instant confirmation, aiming to cut payment bottlenecks. Urban Transport Expansion (Dar es Salaam): Tanzania plans BRT Phases Six and Seven to serve high-demand areas, including Muhimbili National Hospital, with station-area planning and better coordination. Rail Modernisation (Nairobi): Kenya Railways seeks experts for the KSh65bn Nairobi commuter rail electrification and modernisation, including electrical systems and transit-oriented development specialists. Housing & Livability (UN): UN-Habitat marked World Habitat Day with a push for “Adequate Housing for All,” alongside the 2026 Scroll of Honour awards for housing solutions. Real Estate Finance & Risk: A report flags Africa’s underinsurance and risk-transfer gaps, urging regional risk-financing architecture to protect households, property and infrastructure. Construction & Development (Nigeria): Julius Berger delivered a new corporate headquarters for Northwest Petroleum & Gas in Lagos, underscoring continued large-project delivery capacity.

Spain Housing Shock: Spanish PM Pedro Sánchez dissolved parliament and called a snap election for Nov. 29 after housing reforms failed in parliament, as protests over rent hikes and evictions—highlighted by the case of 87-year-old María del Carmen Abascal—kept pressure on his government. Horn of Africa Security: Egypt, Sudan, Eritrea and Somalia signalled a new regional alliance in Alamein, aiming to shape security and influence in a volatile Red Sea and Nile-water dispute environment. Affordable Housing Scale: UN-Habitat says 3.4bn people lack secure, safe and adequate housing, stressing that “adequate” means more than a roof—services, affordability, location and security of tenure matter. Nigeria Teachers & Housing Link: Nigeria’s teachers’ unions and education groups marked World Teachers’ Day with warnings that underpayment, insecurity and poor school conditions are undermining learning; Lagos also reiterated welfare support while calling for better housing and services around communities. PPP for Social Services: African officials urged new PPP models for affordable education, health, housing, water and energy, saying project preparation and financing structures must improve to make deals work. Zambia’s Lobito Corridor: Zambia positioned the Lobito Corridor as an export-led industrial engine, pushing it beyond logistics into local production and jobs. Solar Self-Generation: Kenya’s and wider regional C&I solar uptake continues, with businesses adding more solar capacity for own use to cut costs and stabilize power supply.

Housing Policy Shock: Spain’s Pedro Sánchez called a snap election for Nov 29 after parliament rejected his housing decrees aimed at easing rents and limiting evictions, triggering nationwide protests. Court & Finance: A Lagos federal high court ordered banks to place “post no debit” restrictions on Osun state accounts tied to a $13.9m arbitration award, affecting major lenders. Urban Micro-Property: South Africa’s township “backyard rooms” are evolving into more formal rental units, turning small plots into income-generating assets. Infrastructure & Delivery: Enugu’s National Sports Festival preparations got a boost as the NSC inspected Awgu Games Village; the governor vowed no date shift. Security & Property Risk: South Africa’s police rescued a kidnapped Joburg victim and arrested five suspects; separate reporting also highlighted financial disclosures by Lt-Gen Sibiya amid serious allegations. Energy Corridor: Algeria’s “SouthH2” hydrogen corridor was discussed with partners as studies move toward a final implementation plan. Wildlife & Illicit Trade: Namibia and Angola suspects were arrested at Oshakati over alleged illegal ivory jewellery sales.

Morocco Politics & Women’s Leadership: Lawyer Fatima Zahra Mansouri is poised to become Morocco’s first female prime minister after her PAM party topped the 23 September elections, with coalition talks now the key hurdle. Kenya Governance & Social Cohesion: Kenya’s NCIC chair says the National Cohesion and Integration Commission is more than election-period hate-speech responses—it’s a core development and security mandate for equality and peaceful coexistence. Nigeria Security & Military Infrastructure: President Tinubu says new Nigerian Army formations are operationalised in Zamfara, Kebbi, Oyo and Osun, alongside accelerated barracks and depot construction—an approach aimed at bringing troops closer to communities. Nigeria Property & Water Finance Court Move: Nigeria’s Federal High Court orders banks to place “Post No Debit” on Osun State accounts tied to a $13.9m arbitration award over water infrastructure contracts. East Africa Energy & Trade: Ethiopia’s assertive push includes participation in Kenya’s Lamu refinery push, while Kenya’s exports to the US rebound after AGOA restoration. Tanzania Housing/Climate Risk: Tanzania orders residents in high-risk Msimbazi River areas to relocate ahead of El Niño rains. Real Estate/Urban Development Signal: Egypt’s Al Ismaelia wins WEF “Beyond Tourism Impact Stars” for Downtown Cairo adaptive reuse, spotlighting investment in historic urban property.

Court-Ordered Property Freeze (Nigeria): A Lagos Federal High Court has ordered a “Post No Debit” restriction on Osun State Government accounts across 11 banks, tied to a $13.9m arbitration award in favour of Gamji Nigeria Company Limited over water infrastructure contracts—banks must preserve funds pending the case. Receivership in Lagos Property Dispute: Another Lagos court move puts a Victoria Island property linked to Maryam Abacha under interim receivership and bars Levitikal from selling or transferring it amid a redevelopment ownership fight. Digital Addressing (Nigeria): NIPOST says its new 11-character digital postcodes are building-based, but homeowners’ names can appear because field workers captured informal local identifiers during data collection. Customer Experience (Nigeria): Nigeria’s national customer satisfaction hit an all-time high of 71% in 2025, even as key sectors like power and public services saw declines. Nile Water Rights (Ethiopia): Ethiopia’s water minister rejects calls for Egyptian consent, saying Ethiopia has the right to build dams for irrigation and water supply under international law. Regional Climate Risk (Southern Africa): El Niño is expected to bring drier conditions and higher drought risk for South Africa and parts of Mozambique, threatening agriculture and water security. Security & Mobility (Kenya): A Turkish fugitive was arrested in Isipingo by Interpol South Africa, while Kenya’s pension sector and marathon fundraising highlight continued focus on long-term investment and inclusion.

Housing & Urban Development: Kenya will invest KSh7.5bn to build 3,000 affordable homes in Lamu ahead of the Dangote refinery, while Ivory Coast estimates an urban housing need of 827,753 units by 2030 and has launched 420 social/economic units in Yamoussoukro. Infrastructure & Rail: Morocco’s Greater Casablanca rail overhaul (20bn dirhams) is on schedule, with new stations and 260km of lines progressing a year after launch. Industrial Real Estate & Jobs: Tanzania’s Bagamoyo Eco-Maritime City says six of 26 projects have entered construction, targeting 15,000+ jobs, including a new port, housing and transport links. Mining & Land Resettlement: Kenya’s Shanta Gold begins resettling 1,200+ households displaced by its Ramula gold project, with new homes and compensation under IFC standards. Property & Finance Law: South Africa’s Supreme Court of Appeal backs taxpayers in a SARS dispute over deducting upfront loan-raising fees, a win for debt-heavy property investors. Regional Security & Displacement: Ethiopia’s Tigray rebels reportedly abandon Mekelle as government forces advance, raising risks of looting and instability. Cross-border Trade Finance: Afreximbank extends a EUR 40m revolving working capital facility to Cameroon’s Prometal SA to expand steel production for construction and infrastructure.

Real Estate & Housing Risk: Kenya’s Karibu Homes (Athi River) orders residents in Blocks M, N and P to vacate after widening structural cracks and stormwater concerns, with repairs and strengthening pending. Energy & Infrastructure: Ethiopia’s Damerjog–Dewele petroleum products pipeline (120km) is launched to boost fuel security and cut reliance on road transport from Djibouti. Property & Courts (South Africa): ANC heavyweight Pule Mabe faces loss of a Porsche Carrera and Steyn City property after a civil recovery move tied to an irregular Gauteng tender. Transport Costs (Nigeria): Lagos, Kwara, Ekiti, Plateau and Enugu roll out CNG buses and subsidised transport, but implementation remains uneven as fare cuts are expected from Oct 1. Industrial Real Estate (Kenya): President Ruto revives a KSh33bn Kitui cement factory with a new investor, reviving the Dangote-linked plan. Regional Security Spillover: Ethiopia’s Tigray rebels reportedly abandon Mekelle as government forces advance, raising fears of renewed instability. Ebola (DRC): Congo’s Ebola death toll tops 4,000 as a treatment centre burns down, worsening containment.

Ebola Response in Congo: DR Congo’s Ebola outbreak has killed 4,018 people across 8,300 cases, with Médecins Sans Frontières warning it’s spreading like a “wildfire” as health workers protest unpaid wages. Housing & Land Disputes in Nigeria: A Lagos court appointed a receiver/manager over a disputed Victoria Island property linked to Maryam Abacha, restraining Levitikal Realties from selling or transferring the asset. Affordable Housing in Kenya: President William Ruto inspected title deeds at Mombasa’s Mama Ngina Waterfront, highlighting ongoing efforts to formalise land rights amid reports of evictions by developers. Electricity Access in Tanzania: Tanesco and CRDB will cover rural electricity connection fees (Sh27,000) while urban users get loans up to Sh320,000 under “Kila Kaya Itawaka.” Energy Infrastructure in North Africa: Tunisia-backed Southern Hydrogen Corridor is framed as strategic clean-energy infrastructure linking North Africa to Europe. Property Finance Watch (Nigeria): The CBN warned banks against excessive loan concentration, urging diversified lending to protect stability. Water Security in Morocco: Morocco plans a second phase of its “water highway,” transferring nearly 800 million cubic metres a year between river basins to ease deficits.

Housing & Land (Uganda): Uganda’s housing minister, Princess Persis Namuganza, called for a stronger public-private partnership to tackle the country’s housing shortage ahead of World Habitat Day, urging developers and financiers to scale affordable, innovative homes. Security & Urban Safety (Nigeria/Taraba): Taraba police renewed collaboration with the Nigerian Army, stressing intelligence sharing and joint operations to protect lives and property. Infrastructure Works (Kenya): KeNHA announced a one-month partial closure of the Waiyaki Way (A8) corridor from Oct 8 to Nov 7 for maintenance, with motorists advised to use alternative routes. Energy & Power (Nigeria): NEMSA reiterated strict electrical safety and technical compliance, warning operators and consumers to treat power installation safety as a shared responsibility. Real Estate/Construction Skills (South Africa): North West launched a Construction Industry Development Board-backed Certificate in Construction Management to strengthen contractor business skills beyond technical work. Industrial Real Estate (Kenya/Lamu): Aliko Dangote dismissed Kenya refinery protests, saying the $16bn Lamu project will proceed and be ready by 2030, with regional leaders attending the groundbreaking. Tourism & Hospitality (South Africa/KZN): Club Med’s R2bn mega-resort in KwaZulu-Natal is positioned as a major tourism boost, but local stakeholders are watching to see whether benefits reach SMMEs and jobs. Social Policy (Nigeria): Global Veterans (Ibadan) urged government budget provisions, monthly stipends and welfare support for Nigerians aged 60+ as older persons face rising hardship. Finance (Namibia): Namibia’s international reserves rose 0.7% to N$58.5bn in August, supporting import cover and the rand peg.