The Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of the Federal Housing Authority (FHA), Oyetunde Oladimeji Ojo, has said the agency is repositioning itself to drive affordable housing delivery and revive key housing infrastructure, including the redevelopment of Festac Town.
Ojo stated that the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is injecting new life into the FHA through the Renewed Hope initiative, strategic collaborations and urban development programmes designed to expand access to home ownership nationwide.
According to him, the authority had struggled for years due to funding challenges and policy limitations but is now witnessing a renewed direction under the current administration.
“The Federal Housing Authority, as far back as 2014, was already commercialised. That’s the truth; it was as good as the FHA would have packed up. Now, we’ve come with new life. We are trying to build houses all over the country,” he said.
Addressing Nigeria’s housing deficit, Ojo noted that estimates range between 20 million and 28 million housing units, though exact figures remain uncertain.
He explained that the government had adopted a state-by-state engagement strategy rather than relying on policies developed from Abuja.
According to him, collaboration with governors has become crucial because land administration falls under state governments through the Land Use Act.
He revealed that several governors have provided land to FHA free of charge while also handling taxes and compensation costs, reducing the burden of project development.
Ojo stated that these partnerships would significantly reduce construction expenses and improve housing affordability for Nigerians.
“When we finish building these houses, they will be affordable because the state governments have already taken some of the bills. We are a government agency; we should not focus on increasing rates,” he explained.
He also highlighted ongoing housing projects across the country, including large-scale developments in Abuja and Kano.
According to him, the Federal Ministry of Housing is constructing about 1,000 housing units in Karsana, Abuja, while the FHA is developing 480 units and Kano has approximately 1,000 additional units under construction.
On access to the Renewed Hope housing programme, Ojo urged Nigerians to apply early through FHA offices, ministry channels and online platforms.
“One thing I tell Nigerians is: apply early. It is not when these houses are completed that people should begin to apply,” he said.
The FHA boss also outlined efforts to reduce construction costs through partnerships with state governments and engagement with manufacturers of building materials.
He disclosed that discussions had been held with cement producers to explore ways of making materials more affordable.
Speaking on the redevelopment of Festac Town, Ojo blamed years of neglect and administrative failures for the community’s current challenges.
He disclosed that FHA had commenced extensive rehabilitation work in partnership with the Lagos State Government.
“Festac came into being in 1977. Since 2003, FHA has not been funded by government; we are self-funding. But we are moving and have already started Phase Two of Festac Town,” he said.
He commended the Lagos State Government for ongoing construction on key roads and infrastructure projects in the area, including improvements on Second and Seventh Avenue as well as street lighting projects.
Ojo also assured Nigerians that house allocation under the scheme would remain transparent through structured application, profiling and verification processes.
He explained that applicants would be assessed based on financial capability and mortgage eligibility before housing units are assigned.
