ABUJA, Nigeria (VOICE OF NAIJA)- The Federal Government has expressed its willingness to partner with credible investors to tackle Nigeria’s housing deficit, saying it is prepared to provide land nationwide for large-scale housing developments.
The Minister of Housing and Urban Development, Muttaqha Darma, disclosed this on Tuesday in a statement issued by the ministry’s Director of Press and Public Relations, Badamasi Haiba, after a Chinese delegation led by its Chief Engineer, Lewis Chima, proposed a partnership with the Federal Government to deliver affordable mass housing across the country.
Darma praised the company for showing interest in Nigeria’s housing sector, noting that the proposal aligns with President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, which prioritises expanding access to affordable and sustainable housing through public-private partnerships.
He said the ministry remains committed to creating an enabling environment for genuine investors by facilitating access to land and providing institutional support to ensure successful project implementation.
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“Our mandate is to ensure that more Nigerians have access to affordable and decent housing. We are therefore ready and willing to provide land in Abuja, across the states and in local government areas, subject to due process and the fulfilment of all statutory requirements. This proposal is encouraging because it aligns with the Renewed Hope Housing Programme and our determination to reduce the nation’s housing deficit,” Darma said.
Presenting the proposal, Chima said the company was drawn to Nigeria because of its significant housing demand and economic potential.
He noted that the country’s estimated housing deficit of about 17 million units highlighted the need for large-scale intervention, adding that the proposed project would complement the Federal Government’s Renewed Hope Housing Programme by delivering affordable, durable and rapidly deployable housing solutions across the six geopolitical zones.
“The objective of this project is not merely to construct houses, but to develop sustainable communities through modern industrialised construction technology. We believe this initiative will make a significant contribution towards closing Nigeria’s housing gap while supporting the Federal Government’s vision of affordable housing for all,” he stated.
Chima explained that the company intends to deploy advanced prefabricated construction technology using the Engineering, Procurement, Construction and Financing model, which integrates project design, financing, construction and delivery under a single framework.
According to him, the technology would make it possible to complete the proposed 10,000 housing units within 30 months while lowering construction costs, improving quality, reducing project timelines and strengthening risk management through international financing support.
He also assured the ministry of the company’s commitment to a long-term partnership with the Federal Government, expressing confidence that the initiative would help reduce the housing deficit, create jobs, encourage technology transfer and promote sustainable urban development.
Following the presentation, the minister directed the establishment of a committee comprising relevant directors to carry out a comprehensive assessment of the proposal and advise the ministry on the next steps.
The ministry’s Permanent Secretary, Dr Shuaib Belgore, also assured the delegation of the government’s commitment to fostering strategic partnerships that would advance the Renewed Hope Housing Agenda and accelerate the delivery of affordable, quality and sustainable housing across the country.
Nigeria is estimated to have a housing deficit of about 17 million units, a challenge the Federal Government says it is addressing through the Renewed Hope Housing Programme.
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The programme is designed to expand access to affordable housing through a three-tier model consisting of Renewed Hope Cities, Renewed Hope Estates and Renewed Hope Social Housing Estates, with public-private partnerships serving as a key strategy for accelerating delivery.
According to the ministry, construction has commenced on more than 10,000 housing units across 14 states and the Federal Capital Territory under the initiative.
Major projects include the 3,112-unit Renewed Hope City in Karsana, Abuja, a 2,000-unit Renewed Hope City in Ibeju-Lekki, Lagos, another development in Kano, as well as 250-unit Renewed Hope Estates in several states, all aimed at reducing the housing deficit and expanding access to affordable homes.