Housing all over the world has remained an interdependent phenomenon that affects every facet of mankind. Its importance is so pronounced that it imparts on the social, physical, and mental wellbeing of man irrespective of his socioeconomic status, color, or creed. It represents the most basic human needs and has no doubt an impact on the health, welfare, and productivity of the individual. In spite of the importance of housing to mankind, there is, however, a universal shortage of needed dwelling units, especially in developing countries including Nigeria where population growth and urbanization are rapidly on the increase and where the gap between housing supply and housing demand is so wide. This paper critically appraises contemporary housing and the role of government in the provision of housing in the country. It places in context public housing policies and programmes as they affect the development of housing at the turn of the country. The paper proposes initiatives to address the country’s monumental housing needs through the provision of enable environment which will make the resources required for acquisition housing to majority of the citizenry accessible.