Nigeria’s Minister of Housing and Urban Development, Ahmed Dangiwa, has announced that more than 10,000 housing units are currently in progress across 14 states and the Federal Capital Territory, describing the effort as a turning point for the sector.
Speaking as he marked his second year in office, Dangiwa said the government’s Renewed Hope Housing Programme was introduced to confront a housing deficit estimated at over 17 million units. According to him, the initiative has delivered faster results in two years than what was achieved in the previous eight.
“In just 24 months, we have started work on projects that surpass the 3,500 units delivered in eight years before this administration,” the minister said. “What we are doing is not just about houses, it is about restoring dignity, creating jobs, and spreading prosperity.”
Some of the projects already underway include a 3,112-unit Renewed Hope City in Karsana, Abuja; a 2,000-unit development in Ibeju-Lekki, Lagos; and a 1,500-unit city in Kano with an additional 500-unit estate. In twelve other states, including Osun, Delta, Katsina, and Nasarawa, 250-unit estates are also being built.
Beyond housing construction, the Ministry has rolled out an urban renewal programme that has upgraded over 150 communities nationwide. The projects include new drainage systems, rehabilitated roads, solar power, clean water, schools, and healthcare centres.
On the financing side, reforms to the mortgage system are opening new doors for low- and middle-income Nigerians. Through the Federal Mortgage Bank of Nigeria and the Federal Housing Authority, the government has introduced single-digit interest mortgages and rent-to-own schemes that require no down payment. Public-private partnerships have also mobilised more than N70 billion in fresh housing investments.
“We are working to make homeownership realistic, not a dream,” Dangiwa said. “From single-digit mortgages to affordable rent-to-own models, the focus is on accessibility.”
The Ministry’s Renewed Hope Social Housing Programme targets 77,400 affordable homes—100 in each of the country’s 774 local government areas. The plan is expected to generate more than two million jobs and stimulate rural economies.
Land reform is another priority. With most of Nigeria’s land undocumented, the Housing Ministry has begun digitising registries through the Land4Growth programme, which it says could unlock more than $300 billion in dormant assets.
To reduce building costs, the Ministry has initiated Building Materials Manufacturing Hubs in all six geopolitical zones. Officials project that the hubs will cut costs by up to 25 percent while creating thousands of jobs. At the same time, a fraud-reporting platform has been finalised to protect citizens from fake developers, while a joint initiative with the Nigeria Police is recovering encroached government land.
Recognising the shortage of skilled workers, the Ministry has also launched a national training scheme for artisans, focusing on carpenters, masons, plumbers, and electricians, who will be directly engaged in housing projects.
Partnerships with Shelter Afrique Development Bank, UN-Habitat, and the World Bank are also being pursued to finance and scale the reforms.
Reflecting on the progress, Dangiwa said the achievements of the past two years are only the beginning. “We inherited a housing sector riddled with challenges, but through reforms and partnerships, we are changing the story. This is about building hope and laying the foundation for a more prosperous Nigeria,” he said.
