Adequate and affordable housing remains the critical basic and second need of every Nigerian after food. For many generations, good shelter and proper housing have eluded both urban and rural populate in Nigeria. Regimes after another have promised to tackle the problems of providing adequate and affordable housing to the masses, but failed after bold attempts. Some researchers have postulated that the problems of Inadequate and affordable housing in Nigeria were as a result of half measure policies of governments, high cost of building material, poor funding of mortgage institutions etc. this conference paper discuss the challenges affecting effective housing provision, availability and affordability indices of housing as experienced by greater population of Nigerians over two decades. The paper also recommended some measures that will ensure affordable housing.