Reimagining Uncompleted Buildings as Urban Assets: A Framework for Sustainable Regeneration, Economic Inclusion, and Policy Integration under AfCFTA in Sub-Saharan Africa

Abstract

Across Sub-Saharan Africa, thousands of uncompleted buildings silently reflect deep-rooted challenges in urban governance, finance, and development. Traditionally seen as symptoms of economic stagnation or planning failures, these structures are rarely explored as opportunities. This paper presents a transformative framework that repositions uncompleted buildings as latent urban assets, integrating them into sustainable development strategies aligned with the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA). Using Lagos' Eti-Osa region as a case study, the research investigates how abandoned and stalled construction projects can be reactivated through a policy-mapped approach that combines circular construction, green architecture, and inclusive financing models. The study is based on existing empirical data gathered through field surveys, project audits, stakeholder interviews, and urban development records. It also explores how AfCFTA protocols can support cross-border investment and intra-African collaboration for sustainable real estate regeneration. The result is a multidisciplinary model that links architectural reuse with trade policy, youth employment, housing affordability, and economic resilience. The framework offers a replicable strategy for African cities aiming to promote spatial justice, reduce urban blight, and support the SDGs through locally adaptable and economically viable interventions. This research makes a case for turning urban liabilities into drivers of regional progress, transforming the narrative of Africa’s uncompleted buildings from failure to potential.