The Minister of State for Agriculture and Food Security, Senator Aliyu Sabi Abdullahi, has urged African countries to adopt cooperative housing as a practical and inclusive strategy for addressing the continent’s growing housing deficit.
Abdullahi made the call in Abuja during the Cooperative Housing Summit Africa 2026, themed: “Catalysing Adequate Housing for All Through Cooperatives: Leveraging Digital Finance for Cooperative Housing.”
He described the summit as more than a conventional gathering, noting that it represents a strategic movement aimed at positioning cooperative housing as a sustainable model for solving Africa’s housing challenges.
According to the minister, housing remains a major driver of productivity and national development, yet millions of Africans—particularly low and middle-income earners—continue to struggle with inadequate access to decent shelter.
“Housing is a catalyst for productivity and indeed national development. Yet, across Africa and indeed Nigeria, millions of our citizens continue to face severe housing challenges,” he said.
He noted that farmers, artisans, traders, transport workers, students, women, youth, persons with disabilities, informal sector workers, and vulnerable communities are among those most affected by rising housing costs and limited access to affordable financing.
Abdullahi explained that conventional mortgage systems alone cannot adequately address Africa’s housing crisis, stressing that cooperative housing models have become increasingly important.
“The reality before us is clear. Conventional housing finance systems alone cannot solve Africa’s housing crisis. This is why the cooperative model has become more relevant than ever before,” he added.
The minister said cooperative housing has proven successful globally in reducing homelessness, promoting affordable homeownership, and strengthening communities.
He disclosed plans for the introduction of a National Cooperative Digital Architecture Platform designed to improve governance and trust within the cooperative system.
According to him, the platform will integrate identity management, financial intelligence systems, operational processes, and regulatory compliance frameworks.
Abdullahi further stressed that solving Africa’s housing challenge would require collaboration among governments, cooperative societies, private developers, fintech companies, telecommunications firms, development finance institutions, and community organisations.
He urged governments across the continent to strengthen housing policies, simplify land administration procedures, improve regulatory frameworks, and provide incentives for affordable housing investment.
He also encouraged cooperative institutions to prioritise transparency, innovation, and good governance practices.
“The cooperative sector is a sleeping giant, and we have begun to awaken it,” he stated.
The minister also commended the Cooperative Housing Africa Group, Cooperative Housing Federation of Nigeria, Federal Department of Cooperatives, Cooperative Housing International, GBB Ventures, and other partners for creating a platform capable of transforming housing development across Africa.
Earlier, a representative of the Minister of Housing and Urban Development, Pemi Temitope, described cooperative housing as a critical solution to Africa’s housing problems.
He said cooperative structures provide practical opportunities for affordable homeownership through collective savings and shared responsibility.
Temitope added that digital finance tools could significantly improve transparency, credit accessibility, and mortgage administration for citizens in both formal and informal sectors.
