About 430 staff members of the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) are set to benefit from a housing initiative under the Federal Government’s Renewed Hope Housing Programme.
The Minister of Housing and Urban Development, Engr. Dr. Muttaqha Rabe Darma, disclosed this on Wednesday in Abuja during the presentation of houses to the beneficiaries.
Darma said the initiative formed part of efforts to make home ownership more affordable for Nigerian workers and reduce the burden of rent on household incomes.
FG Targets 40–60% Rent Burden
The minister said the government was working to ensure workers no longer spend between 40 and 60 per cent of their income on rent.
“We are going to assure that in this country workers don’t spend 40 to 60 per cent of their income on rent,” Darma said.
He said reducing the amount workers spend on accommodation would ease financial pressure and allow families to meet other basic needs.
Darma also linked the high cost of housing to broader economic challenges, saying excessive housing costs could indirectly create incentives for corruption.
FG Targets 250,000 Abandoned Housing Units
The minister said the government was also reviewing abandoned housing projects nationwide as part of efforts to increase the country’s housing stock.
According to him, about 250,000 housing units in abandoned projects could potentially be recovered and made available to Nigerians, including civil servants.
“We are taking stock of them. We are taking statistics. We are moving to each and every state where we have these abandoned properties,” he said.
Darma said the Federal Government was engaging state governors on the possibility of taking over or acquiring some abandoned projects for allocation to civil servants and other Nigerians.
He also identified the rising costs of land, building materials and infrastructure as major challenges facing prospective homeowners.
Social Housing Programme to Cover 774 LGAs
The minister said the government was exploring financing options, including the National Housing Fund and mortgage facilities, particularly for workers in the informal sector.
He added that the planned social housing programme would target communities across the country, including the 774 local government areas.
The initiative is expected to involve partnerships among federal institutions, state governments, mortgage institutions, developers and private investors.
Darma urged government agencies and stakeholders to focus on delivering actual housing projects rather than limiting efforts to policy announcements.
430 NMDPRA Staff to Benefit
Speaking at the ceremony, NMDPRA Chief Executive Mallam Rabiu Abdullahi Umar said the authority was committed to improving staff welfare through initiatives that enhance productivity and wellbeing.
He said access to housing would provide greater security and stability for beneficiaries while strengthening their commitment to their responsibilities.
The NMDPRA chief commended the Federal Government, Ministry of Housing and Urban Development, Federal Mortgage Bank of Nigeria (FMBN) and other partners involved in the programme.
The President of the NMDPRA Staff Cooperative Society, Abdullahi Danladi Auta, described the housing allocation as a significant milestone.
Auta said about 430 NMDPRA workers would benefit from the initiative, with projects located in Abuja, Kano and Lagos.
365 Housing Units Earmarked for Abuja
The Chief Commercial Officer of Renewed Hope SPV Limited, Dare Makinde, said the first phase would provide different categories of housing units to NMDPRA staff.
The houses include two-bedroom and three-bedroom flats, as well as three-bedroom terraces with boys’ quarters and other categories across the project locations.
Makinde said 365 housing units were earmarked for Abuja, with additional units to be delivered in Kano and Lagos.
He also disclosed that the second phase of the project would commence in the coming year.
FMBN Managing Director Shehu Usman Osidi congratulated the beneficiaries and commended the partnership between NMDPRA, the Renewed Hope Housing Programme and other stakeholders.
He said the initiative demonstrated how collaboration could expand access to affordable housing and create more opportunities for workers to become homeowners.
