The Minister of Housing and Urban Development, Ahmed Dangiwa, has announced that the Federal Government has allocated 675 hectares of land for the Diaspora City project located at Maitama 2 in the Federal Capital Territory.
This disclosure was made during a visit by a delegation from the African Descendants in Diaspora Union, led by the Union’s Diplomatic Administrator for Nigeria, Dr Abraham Onwubuya.
The minister emphasized the government’s commitment to creating an enabling environment for Nigerians living in the diaspora to participate in the country’s housing market.
He highlighted that the project would feature a variety of housing options, including bungalows, semi-detached and detached duplexes, and mansions, reflecting its inclusive nature.
Dangiwa expressed the ministry’s readiness to collaborate with the African Descendants in Diaspora Union to achieve a shared vision of a prosperous and united Africa, benefiting citizens at home and abroad.
He also acknowledged the significant contribution of Nigerians in the diaspora, with over 20 million individuals remitting an average of over $24bn per annum, which he described as crucial for development across all sectors of the economy.
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The minister noted that the initiative is being carried out in partnership with the Nigerians in the Diaspora Commission, the Federal Mortgage Bank of Nigeria, and the Federal Housing Authority. He highlighted the launch of the Diaspora Mortgage Loan at the 6th Edition of the Nigeria Diaspora Investment Summit in September 2023, aimed at enabling Nigerians living overseas to access up to N50m to own homes in Nigeria through the National Housing Fund Scheme.
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Dangiwa also mentioned that the Federal Mortgage Bank of Nigeria would facilitate the construction of affordable housing units in major cities to meet the specifications of Nigerians in the Diaspora.
He further informed the union that the Federal Housing Authority was involved in the sector-wide effort to cater to the diaspora community, particularly through the development of the Diaspora City Project under a Public Private Partnership.