By Mashe Umaru Gwamna
The Federal Government has declared its readiness to partner with credible local and international investors to accelerate affordable housing delivery, offering access to land across the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), states and local government areas as part of efforts to bridge Nigeria’s housing deficit.
This was according to a statement signed and issued by Director Press and Public Relations, Badamasi Haiba.
Minister of Housing and Urban Development, Engr. Muttaqha Rabe Darma, made the declaration in Abuja while receiving a delegation from China Hyway Group Limited, which presented a proposal to develop 10,000 affordable resettlement housing units in Nigeria.
Darma said the Ministry is committed to creating an enabling environment for genuine investors by facilitating access to land and providing the institutional support required for successful housing projects.
“Our mandate is to ensure that more Nigerians have access to decent and affordable housing. We are ready to provide land in Abuja, across the states and in local government areas, subject to due process and compliance with statutory requirements,” the Minister said.
He noted that the proposal aligns with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, which prioritises expanding access to affordable and sustainable housing through strategic public-private partnerships.
The Minister commended China Hyway Group Limited for its innovative housing proposal, describing it as a significant step towards reducing Nigeria’s housing deficit and strengthening collaboration between the government and private investors.
According to him, the Federal Government remains focused on mobilising private sector investment to complement ongoing housing programmes and increase the supply of affordable homes nationwide.
Earlier, the Chief Engineer of China Hyway Group Limited, Lewis Chima, said the company was attracted to Nigeria by its vast housing demand and strong economic potential.
He noted that Nigeria’s estimated housing deficit of about 17 million units underscores the need for large-scale intervention, adding that the proposed 10,000-unit project is intended to complement the Federal Government’s Renewed Hope Housing Programme.
“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 said.
Chima explained that the project will utilise advanced prefabricated construction technology under the Engineering, Procurement, Construction and Financing (EPC+F) model, integrating project design, financing, construction and delivery into a single framework.
According to him, the technology will enable the delivery of the 10,000 housing units within 30 months while reducing construction costs, improving quality, shortening delivery timelines and ensuring efficient project execution through international financing support.
He assured the Ministry of the company’s commitment to building a long-term partnership with the Federal Government, saying its technical expertise, financial capacity and international experience position it as a reliable partner for the project.
Chima added that the initiative would also generate employment, promote technology transfer and support sustainable urban development across the country.
Following the presentation, the Minister directed the constitution of a committee of relevant directors to conduct a comprehensive technical review of the proposal before the Ministry takes further action.
Also speaking, the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Dr Shuaib Belgore, reaffirmed the Ministry’s commitment to fostering strategic partnerships that will accelerate the delivery of affordable, quality and sustainable housing under the Renewed Hope Housing Agenda.
