Minister of Housing and Urban Development, Ahmed Musa Dangiwa, has restated the Federal Government’s unwavering commitment to providing affordable and decent homes for Nigerians through the Renewed Hope Housing Programme of President Bola Tinubu’s administration.
Speaking during an engagement with the Nigeria Health Insurance Authority (NHIA) Cooperative, Dangiwa described the programme as ambitious, people-focused, and structured to cater to every income group. “The Renewed Hope Cities are funded through public-private partnerships and designed for high-income earners in six locations. The Renewed Hope Estates will target medium- and low-income earners in 30 states, while the Renewed Hope Social Housing is being planned for low- to zero-income earners, including the vulnerable and displaced persons,” he explained.
He emphasised the Ministry’s ongoing collaboration with state governments to secure land for housing projects, while developers and key institutions like the Federal Mortgage Bank of Nigeria (FMBN) and Family Homes Fund would drive delivery. “Cooperative societies have a unique opportunity to lead in this space, and members can access federal mortgage loans at single-digit interest rates, repayable over 30 years, along with other options like ethical mortgages, rent-to-own schemes, and cooperative housing development loans,” Dangiwa noted.
He urged the NHIA Cooperative to partner with developers and acquire land, assuring them that FMBN was ready to finance projects as long as members were properly profiled to match affordability. “Before you acquire any land, make sure it is secured, certified, and free of encumbrances,” he cautioned.
On concerns about the Brains and Hammers Bungalow City in Kubwa, Abuja, Dangiwa confirmed that FMBN and the developers were working to resolve pending issues. “This is the time to mobilise your members, secure land, identify needs, and approach FMBN or the Ministry for support. As long as you are an NHF contributor, you are entitled to assistance from the mortgage bank,” he added.
NHIA Cooperative President, Abdullahi Yusuf, commended the Minister for his intervention, particularly in facilitating access to FMBN’s Rent-to-Own scheme. He revealed that a previous deal with a private developer had collapsed, causing both financial and project losses. “When I heard about the rent-to-own product initiated by you, I knew this was the way forward. This time, I know I am dealing directly with the Federal Mortgage Bank of Nigeria,” Yusuf said.
He disclosed that 36 of the cooperative’s 100 screened members had already been allocated homes in the Kubwa estate and cleared for ownership. He further proposed a bulk payment approach from the source, rather than individual monthly deductions, to ease financial pressure on members. “What you have done for us, we will never forget. I wrote to you reluctantly, unsure it would even reach your table, but to my surprise, you had already acted on it and set up a committee to resolve the matter,” he added with gratitude.
