Nigeria’s Minister of Housing and Urban Development, Ahmed Musa Dangiwa, has marked his second year in office with what he described as bold reforms that are transforming the country’s housing sector. He reported that over 10,000 housing units are already underway across 14 states and the Federal Capital Territory.
Dangiwa, who was appointed by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on August 22, 2023, said the ministry is carrying out a “historic reset” of the sector. He explained that under the Renewed Hope Agenda of the Tinubu administration, practical reforms are being implemented to tackle the housing deficit, which is conservatively estimated at over 17 million units.
According to him, the Renewed Hope Housing Programme has been the main driver of the initiative. The programme is designed as a three-tier model, covering cities, estates, and social housing. In just two years, more than 10,000 housing units have been started across 14 states and Abuja. This is a significant increase compared to only 3,500 units delivered nationwide in the eight years before the current administration.
Some of the flagship projects include the 3,112-unit Renewed Hope City in Karsana, Abuja; a 2,000-unit housing city in Ibeju-Lekki, Lagos; and a 1,500-unit city in Kano, in addition to a 500-unit estate in the state. Smaller estates with 250 units each are also ongoing in 12 states, including Osun, Delta, Katsina, and Nasarawa.
The ministry has also moved to address the worsening state of slums and urban decay through the National Urban Renewal and Slum Upgrade Programme. More than 150 communities have already benefitted from this programme, which includes rehabilitated roads, drainage systems, provision of clean water, solar power, schools, and healthcare centres.
In the area of housing finance, the minister said reforms are being carried out to make mortgages more accessible. Under directives from President Tinubu, the Federal Mortgage Bank of Nigeria and the Federal Housing Authority have introduced single-digit interest mortgages, rent-to-own schemes without down payments, and public-private partnership models. So far, more than N70 billion in private capital has been mobilised to fund housing projects.
For low-income and vulnerable Nigerians, the ministry plans to deliver 77,400 affordable homes under the Renewed Hope Social Housing Programme. The target is to provide at least 100 homes in each of Nigeria’s 774 local government areas. The programme is also expected to create more than two million jobs, stimulate local economies, and bring development to rural and semi-urban communities.
Land reform has been another priority for the ministry. With over 96 percent of Nigeria’s land still untitled and undocumented, the government has launched the Nigeria Land Titling, Registration and Documentation Programme, also called Land4Growth. The initiative will digitise land registries, simplify approvals, and unlock an estimated $300 billion worth of dormant assets. The ministry described it as the most strategic reform that could accelerate the Renewed Hope Agenda’s target of a $1 trillion economy.
In addition, the ministry has created the National Housing Data Centre, a digital platform that will serve as a central source of information on housing, land, and urban development. The centre will provide real-time data to guide government policy, attract investors, and improve transparency in housing delivery.
To tackle the rising cost of building materials, the ministry has begun setting up Building Materials Manufacturing Hubs across Nigeria’s six geopolitical zones. The hubs are expected to cut housing construction costs by up to 25 percent while creating thousands of jobs for Nigerians.
The Housing Fraud Reporting Platform has also been established to fight fraudulent developers and check cases of abandoned projects. Alongside this, the Safeguarding FG Lands Initiative, introduced with the Nigeria Police, will help recover encroached government land for redevelopment.
The ministry is also addressing the shortage of skilled construction workers. The National Artisan Skills Acquisition Programme has been designed to train thousands of young Nigerians as carpenters, masons, plumbers, and electricians. Graduates from the programme will be linked directly to ongoing housing projects across the country.
Dangiwa also revealed that partnerships have been secured with Shelter Afrique Development Bank to finance 5,000 affordable homes. Collaborations with UN-Habitat and the World Bank are also being developed to provide technical and financial support for the housing and urban reforms.
Reflecting on his two years in office, Dangiwa said the housing sector was filled with systemic challenges when he took over. “In just two years, through the support of Mr. President and our partners, we have rolled out strategic programmes that are delivering results. We are not just building houses; we are building hope, dignity, and prosperity for millions of Nigerians. And we are only just beginning,” he stated.
