The Federal Government has commenced construction of a 250-unit housing estate in Gwagwalada, Abuja, as part of efforts to make homeownership more accessible to federal civil servants.
The estate, comprising two-bedroom bungalows, is being developed through a partnership between the Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation (OHCSF) and the Federal Ministry of Housing and Urban Development.
Speaking at the groundbreaking ceremony in Abuja, the Minister of Housing and Urban Development, Engr. Muttaqha Rabe Darma, said the project was designed to improve workers’ welfare by providing them with affordable and secure homes.
Darma said the government considers housing an important part of civil service welfare, noting that access to decent accommodation can help workers maintain productivity and efficiency.
He explained that the Gwagwalada project was part of a broader housing programme being implemented across the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory.
Under the programme, 122 rent-to-own housing units are expected to be delivered before the end of August, while additional projects are scheduled for commissioning in September, October and December.
The planned developments include 252 housing units in Lagos, 300 units in Abuja and 2,800 units in Karsana, Abuja. Other locations will receive projects comprising 2,000 and 1,500 units, while another 2,129 units are scheduled for delivery in December.
The minister said the projects demonstrate the administration’s commitment to translating its housing policies into completed developments before the end of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s tenure in May 2027.
He urged contractors, consultants and supervising teams to maintain construction standards and meet agreed delivery timelines, stressing that the government was entering a phase of “action, action and action.”
Civil Servants Need Homes, Not Drawings
The Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Mrs. Didi Esther Walson-Jack, described the Gwagwalada estate as an important step towards addressing the housing needs of federal workers.
Walson-Jack said homeownership would provide civil servants and their families with greater stability and peace of mind, describing the opportunity as a lasting reward for their years of service.
She, however, stressed that the success of the programme would depend on timely completion of the projects.
According to her, civil servants need completed houses and keys rather than drawings and groundbreaking ceremonies.
“We look forward to the commissioning of these homes and to witnessing their allocation to eligible and deserving civil servants,” she said.
305 Housing Units Already Provided
The OHCSF disclosed that 305 housing units had already been provided to civil servants through the Federal Integrated Staff Housing Programme.
More than 40,000 federal workers have also benefited from housing loans through the Federal Government Staff Housing Loans Board.
Walson-Jack encouraged eligible civil servants to take advantage of the government’s ₦10 billion annual housing loan scheme being implemented through the Federal Mortgage Bank of Nigeria.
She also called for additional partnerships to expand housing opportunities for federal workers across the country.
The Head of Service urged state governments to consider adopting similar housing initiatives for their employees.
The groundbreaking ceremony was attended by the Minister of State for Housing and Urban Development, Rt. Hon. Yusuf Abdullahi Atta, Permanent Secretary of the ministry Dr. Shuaib Mohammed Lamido-Belgore, senior government officials, traditional rulers and other stakeholders.
