By Amos Harris
The Executive Director of the National Housing Authority (NHA), Madam Florence Geebae, has issued a stark warning over Liberia worsening housing situation
She is revealing that nearly 70 percent of the population currently lives in slum communities a statistic that exposes a deepening national crisis and years of policy neglect.
Speaking at the Ministry of Information’s regular press briefing on Thursday, January 22, 2026
Madam Geebae described the housing conditions across the country as “devastating,” noting that unchecked urban migration and the absence of affordable housing have turned Monrovia and its surrounding areas into overcrowded, unsafe, and unsanitary settlements.
She called on the government to treat housing as a national development priority, stressing that the lack of affordable homes for low-income families continues to fuel congestion, public health risks, and social instability.
According to her, sustained investment in affordable housing would significantly reduce pressure on urban centers while improving the living conditions of thousands of vulnerable Liberians.
“We need more housing units that are affordable for low-income families.
Building these homes will reduce the overcrowded population in Monrovia and its environs,” Madam Geebae said.
Beyond the alarming statistics, the NHA boss painted a troubling picture of institutional decay within the agency tasked with addressing the problem.
She disclosed that the authority is struggling with severe financial and structural challenges, including limited access to financing and refinancing for housing projects.
Madam Geebae admitted that upon taking office, she encountered what she termed a “broken system,” weakened by years of underfunding and poor political support.
Established on April 15, 1960, the National Housing Authority was mandated to initiate, develop, and regulate housing programs nationwide.
However, Madam Geebae argued that the institution’s mandate has been largely undermined by a persistent lack of political will, leaving Liberia’s housing sector unregulated and largely informal.
In response to the crisis, she revealed that the NHA has drafted a comprehensive national housing policy, currently under review by the Law Reform Commission.
If enacted into law, the policy would strengthen zoning regulations and crack down on unregulated construction in alleyways and informal settlements practices that have contributed significantly to the expansion of slums.
“We’ve crafted a national policy or a bill that is currently with the Law Reform Commission.
If enacted into law, we’ll regulate and stop citizens from building in alleyways and make our zoning laws more effective and efficient,” she explained.
The revelation that seven out of every ten Liberians live in slum conditions underscores the magnitude of the housing emergency confronting the country.
Analysts and residents alike warn that without decisive and sustained government action, the crisis could spiral further, deepening poverty, worsening public health conditions, and threatening urban stability.
As the NHA waits on legislative action, many Liberians are questioning whether the alarming figures will finally push housing to the top of the national agenda or remain yet another warning ignored.
