The Cross River State Government has unveiled plans to deliver 1,500 affordable housing units across the state, while urging housing corporations nationwide to adopt innovative and scalable models capable of addressing Nigeria’s growing housing deficit.
Commissioner for Housing, Dr. Beatrice Igwe, made the call on behalf of Governor Bassey Otu at the opening of a two-day national workshop organised by the Association of Housing Corporations of Nigeria (AHCN) in Calabar.
The workshop, themed “Affordable Housing Solutions for Low-Income Earners in Emerging Housing Markets,” brought together stakeholders to explore sustainable strategies for expanding access to affordable homes.
Igwe said Nigeria’s housing demand continues to outpace supply, particularly because conventional financing models remain inaccessible to many low-income earners.
She disclosed that the Cross River State Government is implementing an innovative Public-Private-Community Partnership (PPCP) model under Governor Otu’s People First agenda to accelerate housing delivery.
According to her, the state will officially break ground on a 500-unit Okuni Housing Estate in the Central Senatorial District on July 4, 2026. Similar projects are planned for the Northern and Southern senatorial districts, bringing the total number of proposed housing units to 1,500 statewide.
The commissioner also revealed that a separate 50-unit free housing project for indigent women has reached about 80 per cent completion.
She urged housing corporations to standardise building designs, embrace innovation and strengthen partnerships with institutions such as the Federal Mortgage Bank of Nigeria (FMBN) and Family Homes Funds Limited to improve access to affordable housing finance.
Speaking on behalf of the Minister of Housing and Urban Development, Engr. Muttaqha Rabe Darma, Arc. Dennis Pau Ishaya said the Federal Government was implementing reforms to reposition the housing sector as a catalyst for economic growth, employment and social inclusion.
He said the Renewed Hope Housing Programme is currently delivering housing projects across the six geopolitical zones and the Federal Capital Territory, with a focus on local building materials, improved mortgage access, urban renewal and increased private sector participation.
Earlier, President of the Association of Housing Corporations of Nigeria, ESV. Eno Obongha, described housing as a critical indicator of economic development and social stability.
He said Nigeria’s widening housing deficit requires innovative construction methods and financing solutions that can deliver affordable homes at the scale needed to meet the country’s rapidly growing population.
Obongha urged stakeholders to move beyond discussions on construction costs and focus on practical solutions that would make homeownership more accessible for low-income Nigerians.
