FG Kicks Off Nationwide Drive for Affordable Housing

…Targets Structural, Economic Reforms

The Minister of Housing and Urban Development, Architect Ahmed Musa Dangiwa, highlighted the Tinubu administration’s commitment to fixing the structural and macroeconomic foundations needed to make housing affordable and sustainable across Nigeria.

Speaking at the opening of the 19th Africa International Housing Show (AIHS) in Abuja, Dangiwa detailed bold initiatives: stabilizing the economy, boosting the Naira, raising incomes, and slashing inflation—all essential groundwork for an accessible housing market.

Key Highlights from the Minister’s Address
*State-by-State Homeownership Campaign: Dangiwa announced the launch of a State-by-State Homeownership and Housing Development Campaign, a high-impact outreach to bridge the gap between national housing policy and state-level execution.

The campaign will embed Housing Reform Champions as advisers to governors, convene roundtables to review state plans, and provide technical and financial support to enable affordable housing access for all income levels.

*Renewed Hope Housing Programme: The programme is rolling out across three major tiers:

*Renewed Hope Cities: Large-scale urban developments with integrated infrastructure in major cities.

*Renewed Hope Estates: Medium-density residential clusters in 30 states.

*Renewed Hope Social Housing Estates: Deeply affordable homes for low-income Nigerians, including targeted subsidies, with at least one estate in each Local Government Area (LGA).

*Innovative Financing Solutions: The government set up the MOFI Real Estate Investment Fund (MREIF) to mobilize long-term mortgage finance at 12% interest. Through the Federal Mortgage Bank of Nigeria (FMBN), it also introduced:

*Rent-to-Own Scheme: Enables immediate occupancy while building equity through monthly payments.

*Rental Assistance Product: Supports advance rent payments with flexible monthly terms—relieving pressure on urban workers and young families.

*Slum Upgrades and Urban Renewal: Over 150 urban renewal projects have launched, including road, water, and solar energy infrastructure, aiming to align with UN-Habitat principles and the Addis Declaration to ensure no community is left behind.

*Local Building Materials Hubs: The federal government is establishing building materials manufacturing hubs in six geopolitical zones to reduce costs, boost local production, and enhance affordability—a move supported by fiscal incentives and private sector partnerships.

*Bridging Policy and Implementation: The new campaign will foster collaboration with states, the private sector, and global development partners to turn policy into practical housing opportunities nationwide.
Broader Context

Former Minister Jerry Gana and other stakeholders reiterated the urgent need for reforms, calling for:

*Expanded local production of building materials to cut 50–70% of housing costs.

*Decentralized infrastructure management to empower states and LGAs in delivering solutions.

*Sustained funding and private sector partnerships to address Nigeria’s housing deficit, estimated at up to 22 million units.

The government’s renewed political will includes an Experts-led National Housing Policy Committee to monitor and report on implementation for measurable results.