The Federal Government and the Niger State Government have entered into a strategic partnership aimed at delivering large-scale housing developments integrated with agriculture and energy infrastructure, as part of broader efforts to address Nigeria’s housing deficit, rural instability and inclusive economic growth.
The agreement, formalised through a Memorandum of Understanding between the Niger State Government and the Ministry of Finance Incorporated, positions housing delivery as the anchor of a wider rural development framework aligned with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda.
Under the arrangement, Niger State will provide 100,000 hectares of land for a pilot phase that combines affordable residential housing with organised farming communities, basic infrastructure and renewable energy solutions. Officials say the model is designed to move beyond isolated housing estates by creating complete, liveable settlements that support productivity and long-term economic activity.
Governor Mohammed Umaru Bago said the initiative reflects a deliberate shift toward housing-centred development, particularly for rural and agrarian populations who have historically lacked access to secure and dignified accommodation.
“This programme recognises that housing is foundational,” Bago said. “When people have safe, permanent homes close to their livelihoods, everything else—security, productivity, health and education—improves.”
He explained that the settlements will allow farmers and rural workers to live within structured communities rather than temporary or dispersed housing, reducing exposure to insecurity and eliminating the need for long daily commutes to farmlands. According to him, the approach also helps curb rural–urban migration by making countryside living more viable and attractive.
The governor noted that Niger State’s land mass, water resources and mechanisation capacity provide a strong base for delivering housing at scale, adding that the project will be driven largely by private capital through an asset-backed financing structure.
“We are not waiting for annual budgets to build houses,” Bago said. “Land is our contribution, private capital will drive construction, and government will ensure speed, clarity of titles and enabling infrastructure.”
Minister of State for Finance, Dr Doris Uzoka-Anite, said the MoU reflects growing recognition at the federal level that Nigeria’s housing challenge cannot be separated from broader economic and social policy goals.
“Housing is not just about shelter,” she said. “It affects productivity, food systems, employment and social stability. When housing is planned alongside infrastructure and livelihoods, it delivers far greater impact.”
Uzoka-Anite explained that the Ministry of Finance Incorporated is central to structuring the initiative in a way that attracts private investors while safeguarding public assets. She said the financing framework blends public land with private funding to lower risk, ensure transparency and deliver housing that remains affordable for low- and middle-income earners.
She added that renewable energy solutions, particularly solar power, will be integrated into the housing developments to reduce household energy costs and support small-scale processing and storage activities within the communities.
Managing Director of the Ministry of Finance Incorporated, Dr Armstrong Takang, said the project reflects a shift away from fragmented housing schemes toward integrated settlement planning that links homes, infrastructure and economic activity.
“You cannot solve the housing deficit by building houses in isolation,” Takang said. “People need power, water, roads, schools and access to markets. This programme is about building complete communities that can sustain themselves.”
He said housing units will be delivered using cost-effective and alternative building technologies to keep prices within reach of rural residents and agricultural workers, while maintaining quality and durability. According to him, construction activity alone is expected to generate significant employment across building materials, logistics and local labour.
Takang added that each housing cluster will be supported by organised land use planning, healthcare facilities, schools and access roads, ensuring that residents are not cut off from essential services.
Beyond shelter, officials said the housing-led model is expected to stimulate job creation across construction, farming, agro-processing and energy services, while strengthening local economies and reducing pressure on urban centres.
As implementation begins, the federal and state governments said the project could serve as a blueprint for other states seeking to tackle housing shortages while driving rural development through private-sector participation.
“This is about delivering housing that supports livelihoods and dignity,” Bago said. “Not isolated estates, but communities where people can live, work and thrive.”
