Housing Minister Muttaqha Darma says government is working to reduce rent pressure on workers and recover abandoned housing projects nationwide.

The Federal Government says it is working to reduce the proportion of workers’ income spent on rent, with Housing and Urban Development Minister Muttaqha Rabe Darma saying the government does not want Nigerian workers spending between 40 and 60 per cent of their earnings on accommodation.

Darma made the statement on Wednesday while commending the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) for supporting affordable housing access for its workers. 

According to the minister, high rental costs can place additional financial pressure on workers with families. He argued that when a large share of legitimate income goes towards rent, workers may face difficulties meeting other obligations such as education and family welfare.

He linked that pressure to the broader challenge of corruption, saying the government wants to reduce one of the financial pressures that could encourage people to seek additional sources of income.

“We are going to ensure that in this country, workers do not spend 40 to 60 per cent of their income on rent,” Darma said.

He said the government’s broader objective was to make decent and affordable housing more accessible, with the ultimate goal of ensuring that Nigerians without adequate housing can have homes.

FG Reviews Abandoned Housing Projects

Darma also disclosed that the Federal Government is conducting a nationwide assessment of abandoned housing projects as part of its strategy to increase housing supply.

The minister said some of the abandoned developments date back several years, including housing schemes initiated during the administration of former President Olusegun Obasanjo.

“There are so many housing projects, starting from the National Housing Programme and even long way back—even during General Obasanjo’s time—so many of them have been abandoned all over Nigeria, in all states,” he said. 

The government is compiling information on the projects and visiting locations across the country to determine their condition and the steps required to bring them back into use.

Darma said the Federal Government is also engaging state governors over the possibility of taking over or acquiring some of the abandoned housing projects.

Under the proposed approach, viable estates could be renovated and converted into functional homes, including housing that could be allocated to civil servants.

The minister said the government had identified close to 250,000 abandoned housing units nationwide.

He expressed optimism that recovering the units would provide a faster way of increasing housing supply because the projects already represent investments made with public funds.

Government Wants States To Take Over Some Projects

According to Darma, discussions with state governments are intended to determine how abandoned projects can be recovered, completed and put to productive use.

The proposal would involve states taking over or buying selected abandoned developments, renovating them and making the completed properties available to workers.

The minister’s comments come as the Federal Government continues its broader review of abandoned housing assets.

On Wednesday, Darma also inspected the abandoned National Housing Programme estate at Kubwa-Karsana in the Federal Capital Territory. The ministry said the exercise is part of a nationwide assessment designed to determine the completion status of abandoned projects and identify the interventions required to make viable estates functional. 

Darma said viable projects would be upgraded, completed and allocated transparently to Nigerians.

“We cannot continue to allow housing projects that were started with public funds to remain abandoned,” he said during the inspection.

The ministry said recovering existing projects would complement the construction of new housing developments and help maximise investments already made by government.

Housing Deficit Remains A Major Challenge

Darma put the number of Nigerians currently unhoused at about 110 million and said approximately 16 million housing units would be required to address the deficit.

The figures were presented by the minister as part of the government’s assessment of the scale of Nigeria’s housing challenge. Other recent housing assessments have produced different estimates of the national deficit, underscoring the importance of reliable housing data.

The Federal Mortgage Bank of Nigeria, for instance, has continued to support homeownership through schemes such as rent-to-own housing. In August 2026, FMBN delivered 129 completed three-bedroom bungalows to beneficiaries at the Nasarawa Technology Village in Karu, Nasarawa State. 

The Federal Government has also announced plans under its National Social Housing Programme to construct 774,000 housing units across the country for low- and middle-income earners. 

These initiatives form part of the government’s wider strategy to increase housing supply while improving access to mortgage and rent-to-own arrangements.

FG Seeks Housing Delivery Within Months

Darma said the Ministry of Housing and Urban Development had been engaging stakeholders across the housing sector and relevant regulators to facilitate the provision of additional housing units.

He said the government wants to move beyond policy discussions and deliver practical housing solutions.

The minister also indicated that recovering abandoned estates could help government achieve that objective more efficiently because some projects may require completion or rehabilitation rather than entirely new construction.

For workers facing high rental costs, the recovery of existing housing units could potentially create additional accommodation options if the properties are successfully completed and allocated.

Darma reiterated that the government would pursue the recovery strategy and work with state governments to bring abandoned housing assets back into use.

“We are going to do it,” he said.

The government’s approach therefore combines two tracks: increasing new housing supply and recovering abandoned projects that can still be made functional.

The success of the strategy will depend on the condition of the identified projects, funding for rehabilitation, agreements with state governments, infrastructure availability and transparent allocation of completed homes.

For now, the minister says the Federal Government is compiling the required data, inspecting abandoned estates and engaging relevant stakeholders as it works towards reducing Nigeria’s housing shortage and the financial burden of rent on workers.

Housing Minister Muttaqha Darma says government is working to reduce rent pressure on workers and recover abandoned housing projects nationwide.

The Federal Government says it is working to reduce the proportion of workers’ income spent on rent, with Housing and Urban Development Minister Muttaqha Rabe Darma saying the government does not want Nigerian workers spending between 40 and 60 per cent of their earnings on accommodation.

Darma made the statement on Wednesday while commending the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) for supporting affordable housing access for its workers. 

According to the minister, high rental costs can place additional financial pressure on workers with families. He argued that when a large share of legitimate income goes towards rent, workers may face difficulties meeting other obligations such as education and family welfare.

He linked that pressure to the broader challenge of corruption, saying the government wants to reduce one of the financial pressures that could encourage people to seek additional sources of income.

“We are going to ensure that in this country, workers do not spend 40 to 60 per cent of their income on rent,” Darma said.

He said the government’s broader objective was to make decent and affordable housing more accessible, with the ultimate goal of ensuring that Nigerians without adequate housing can have homes.

FG Reviews Abandoned Housing Projects

Darma also disclosed that the Federal Government is conducting a nationwide assessment of abandoned housing projects as part of its strategy to increase housing supply.

The minister said some of the abandoned developments date back several years, including housing schemes initiated during the administration of former President Olusegun Obasanjo.

“There are so many housing projects, starting from the National Housing Programme and even long way back—even during General Obasanjo’s time—so many of them have been abandoned all over Nigeria, in all states,” he said. 

The government is compiling information on the projects and visiting locations across the country to determine their condition and the steps required to bring them back into use.

Darma said the Federal Government is also engaging state governors over the possibility of taking over or acquiring some of the abandoned housing projects.

Under the proposed approach, viable estates could be renovated and converted into functional homes, including housing that could be allocated to civil servants.

The minister said the government had identified close to 250,000 abandoned housing units nationwide.

He expressed optimism that recovering the units would provide a faster way of increasing housing supply because the projects already represent investments made with public funds.

Government Wants States To Take Over Some Projects

According to Darma, discussions with state governments are intended to determine how abandoned projects can be recovered, completed and put to productive use.

The proposal would involve states taking over or buying selected abandoned developments, renovating them and making the completed properties available to workers.

The minister’s comments come as the Federal Government continues its broader review of abandoned housing assets.

On Wednesday, Darma also inspected the abandoned National Housing Programme estate at Kubwa-Karsana in the Federal Capital Territory. The ministry said the exercise is part of a nationwide assessment designed to determine the completion status of abandoned projects and identify the interventions required to make viable estates functional. 

Darma said viable projects would be upgraded, completed and allocated transparently to Nigerians.

“We cannot continue to allow housing projects that were started with public funds to remain abandoned,” he said during the inspection.

The ministry said recovering existing projects would complement the construction of new housing developments and help maximise investments already made by government.

Housing Deficit Remains A Major Challenge

Darma put the number of Nigerians currently unhoused at about 110 million and said approximately 16 million housing units would be required to address the deficit.

The figures were presented by the minister as part of the government’s assessment of the scale of Nigeria’s housing challenge. Other recent housing assessments have produced different estimates of the national deficit, underscoring the importance of reliable housing data.

The Federal Mortgage Bank of Nigeria, for instance, has continued to support homeownership through schemes such as rent-to-own housing. In August 2026, FMBN delivered 129 completed three-bedroom bungalows to beneficiaries at the Nasarawa Technology Village in Karu, Nasarawa State. 

The Federal Government has also announced plans under its National Social Housing Programme to construct 774,000 housing units across the country for low- and middle-income earners. 

These initiatives form part of the government’s wider strategy to increase housing supply while improving access to mortgage and rent-to-own arrangements.

FG Seeks Housing Delivery Within Months

Darma said the Ministry of Housing and Urban Development had been engaging stakeholders across the housing sector and relevant regulators to facilitate the provision of additional housing units.

He said the government wants to move beyond policy discussions and deliver practical housing solutions.

The minister also indicated that recovering abandoned estates could help government achieve that objective more efficiently because some projects may require completion or rehabilitation rather than entirely new construction.

For workers facing high rental costs, the recovery of existing housing units could potentially create additional accommodation options if the properties are successfully completed and allocated.

Darma reiterated that the government would pursue the recovery strategy and work with state governments to bring abandoned housing assets back into use.

“We are going to do it,” he said.

The government’s approach therefore combines two tracks: increasing new housing supply and recovering abandoned projects that can still be made functional.

The success of the strategy will depend on the condition of the identified projects, funding for rehabilitation, agreements with state governments, infrastructure availability and transparent allocation of completed homes.

For now, the minister says the Federal Government is compiling the required data, inspecting abandoned estates and engaging relevant stakeholders as it works towards reducing Nigeria’s housing shortage and the financial burden of rent on workers.

The post FG Targets Lower Rent Burden, Identifies 250,000 Abandoned Housing Units appeared first on Housing TV Africa.

The Federal Government has commenced a fresh assessment of abandoned housing estates across Nigeria, with plans to rehabilitate, upgrade and complete viable projects built with public funds.

The Minister of Housing and Urban Development, Engr. Muttaqa Rabe Darma, announced the initiative while inspecting the abandoned National Housing Programme (NHP) estate in the Kubwa-Karsana District of the Federal Capital Territory.

Darma said the inspection formed part of a nationwide assessment of neglected Federal Government housing assets under the Renewed Hope Housing Agenda.

According to the Minister, the exercise is intended to identify housing projects that can be revived and returned to productive use rather than allowing public assets to deteriorate.

The Federal Government’s latest approach places emphasis on recovering existing investments alongside the construction of new housing projects.

FG To Assess Abandoned Housing Projects

Darma expressed concern over the continued abandonment of government-funded housing projects, saying public assets should be completed and made available to Nigerians.

“We cannot continue to allow housing projects that were started with public funds to remain abandoned. These are assets belonging to Nigerians, and our responsibility is to ensure that they are completed, functional and occupied by the people who need them,” he said.

The Minister said the Ministry is reviewing abandoned housing projects across the country to determine their current condition, level of completion and the interventions required to restore them.

The assessment is expected to provide information that will help the government determine which projects are viable for rehabilitation and completion.

The Ministry did not provide a nationwide figure for the number of abandoned housing projects covered by the exercise.

Viable Estates To Be Upgraded

Darma said projects found to be viable would be upgraded and completed as part of the Federal Government’s efforts to expand housing supply.

“Our target is clear. Where projects are viable, we will upgrade them, complete them and ensure that Nigerians can benefit from them,” he said.

He added that the government was determined to deliver more homes and reduce the housing deficit before the end of 2026.

The Minister did not provide a detailed list of the projects being assessed or the estimated cost of rehabilitating the abandoned estates.

Those details would depend on the outcome of the assessment and technical evaluation of individual projects.

Renewed Hope Housing Agenda

The nationwide assessment forms part of the Federal Government’s broader Renewed Hope Housing Agenda.

The Ministry has been implementing new housing developments while also inspecting projects across different parts of the country.

In June, Darma inspected the Renewed Hope City project in Ibeju-Lekki, Lagos, which comprises 2,084 housing units. The Ministry said the project was being delivered through a public-private partnership, with FMBN financing 1,500 units. 

The Minister said at the time that the nationwide inspections were intended to establish project status, identify challenges and determine the steps required to ensure timely completion.

The current assessment of abandoned estates extends that approach to projects that have stalled or remained unused.

Government Wants To Protect Public Investments

The Housing Ministry said recovering abandoned projects would help prevent public resources already invested in housing from being wasted.

Rather than allowing partially completed estates to deteriorate, the government wants to determine whether existing structures can be rehabilitated and brought into use.

Darma said completing viable abandoned projects would complement the construction of new estates and enable government to increase the number of available housing units more efficiently.

This approach could also reduce the time and resources required to provide housing where usable infrastructure and partially completed structures already exist.

However, the Ministry has not disclosed the specific criteria it will use to determine whether an abandoned project is considered viable.

Allocation To Be Transparent

The Minister also assured that houses recovered and completed under the programme would be allocated transparently to deserving Nigerians.

He said allocation would be carried out in line with the objectives of the Renewed Hope Housing Agenda.

The statement did not provide details of the proposed allocation process, eligibility requirements or whether previous beneficiaries connected to some of the abandoned projects would receive priority.

Those details could become clearer after the Ministry completes its assessment and develops strategies for individual projects.

Housing Delivery Through Existing Assets

The Federal Government’s decision to assess abandoned estates reflects a dual approach to housing delivery.

One part involves developing new housing projects, while the other focuses on recovering existing government investments.

Recent housing interventions demonstrate the government’s continued emphasis on completing and allocating existing projects.

Earlier in September, the Federal Mortgage Bank of Nigeria handed over 129 completed three-bedroom bungalow units at the Nasarawa Technology Village under its Rent-to-Own Scheme. The project was linked to a wider intervention for beneficiaries who had previously been unable to take possession of their homes. 

The Minister described that handover as evidence of what could be achieved through collaboration among public institutions, financiers, private developers and state governments. 

The abandoned-estates initiative similarly focuses on turning existing housing investments into usable homes.

Previous Inspections Revealed Project Challenges

Darma’s nationwide inspections have previously exposed gaps between reported project progress and conditions observed on the ground.

In June, an inspection of a Federal Government housing project in Katsina found that only about 130 of 250 units described in official progress reports as completed were actually finished, according to Premium Times. The inspection also identified concerns about deterioration in some structures. 

The Minister subsequently directed officials to conduct a comprehensive audit of the project, including the contractors involved, contract terms, amounts released and actual completion levels. 

That experience underscores the importance of physical verification when assessing abandoned or incomplete housing projects.

For the current nationwide exercise, the Ministry says it intends to establish the condition and status of abandoned Federal Government housing assets before deciding on appropriate interventions.

Kubwa-Karsana Estate Under Review

The Kubwa-Karsana inspection is one of the latest steps in the Ministry’s assessment.

The estate is part of the Federal Government’s housing infrastructure in the Federal Capital Territory.

Darma’s inspection is expected to help the Ministry determine the level of work already completed at the site and what would be required to make the development functional.

The government has not yet announced the estimated cost of completing the Kubwa-Karsana estate or a specific completion date.

It has also not disclosed the number of housing units at the inspected site in the latest statement.

The focus, according to the Minister, is first to establish the status of the asset and determine whether it can be successfully revived.

Wider Housing Challenge

Nigeria continues to face significant demand for affordable housing, making the recovery of stalled public projects an important part of housing policy discussions.

The Federal Government has also been pursuing new housing developments, financing interventions and partnerships with private-sector developers.

In June, the Housing Ministry said it was implementing six Renewed Hope Cities, one in each geopolitical zone, alongside Renewed Hope Estates in 12 locations across the country. 

The Ministry’s current approach therefore combines new construction with efforts to recover older public housing investments.

The success of the abandoned-estates initiative will depend on the condition of individual projects, available funding, contractor performance, land and infrastructure issues, and the government’s ability to complete and allocate the revived units.

Government Seeks Faster Housing Delivery

Darma said the recovery programme would support the government’s objective of increasing housing supply and improving access to affordable homes.

He said rehabilitating viable abandoned estates would allow the government to make better use of public investments while increasing the number of completed housing units available to citizens.

The Minister also emphasised the need to improve existing housing infrastructure and bring viable projects back into use.

The Ministry is expected to continue inspecting abandoned Federal Government housing assets across the country as it develops strategies for rehabilitation, completion and eventual allocation.

For Nigerians who have questioned why publicly funded housing projects are allowed to remain unused or deteriorate, the exercise represents a renewed attempt to place existing assets back into the housing supply pipeline.

However, the extent of the programme will only become clearer as the Ministry publishes the results of its nationwide assessment, identifies projects for intervention and provides details on funding, completion timelines and allocation.

For now, the Federal Government has stated that viable abandoned housing projects will be assessed, upgraded and completed, with the ultimate objective of making the recovered homes available to Nigerians.

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FG Sets Six-Week Deadline for Actionable Housing Reform Blueprint

The Federal Government has given a 14-member ministerial committee six weeks to develop a practical implementation strategy for wide-ranging reforms in Nigeria’s housing and built-environment sector.

Minister of Housing and Urban Development, Engr. Muttaqa Rabe Darma, inaugurated the committee in Abuja and directed its members to convert recommendations from housing stakeholders into measurable actions.

The panel is officially known as the Ministerial Committee on the Implementation Framework for the Validated Stakeholder Resolutions on Housing Sector Reforms.

Its members were drawn from technical departments of the Ministry of Housing and Urban Development and relevant housing agencies.

The ministry’s Permanent Secretary, Dr Shuaib Belgore, was appointed chairman of the committee.

Under its terms of reference, the panel is expected to coordinate the implementation of approved reform measures and develop a detailed work plan identifying priorities, timelines, responsibilities and expected results.

The committee will also monitor progress and ensure that agencies or departments assigned specific responsibilities complete them within the approved timeframe.

Darma explained that the reform recommendations emerged from an earlier stakeholders’ validation conference, where participants examined housing data and proposed measures for repositioning the sector.

The recommendations have been divided into three categories: measures the ministry can implement immediately, proposals requiring approval from the Presidential Council and reforms that will require legislative action.

According to the minister, the government’s responsibility extends beyond the direct construction of houses. It must also create an enabling environment in which individuals, developers, investors and financial institutions can increase housing supply.

Darma identified stronger regulation as an important requirement for improving standards and unlocking the economic potential of Nigeria’s built environment.

He cited 2025 data indicating that the sector contributes approximately 17 per cent to the Nigerian economy, compared with between 22 and 27 per cent in countries such as South Africa and Kenya.

The minister expressed confidence that better policies, improved regulation and coordinated implementation could help the Nigerian housing sector increase its contribution to national economic growth.

He urged the committee to approach its assignment with urgency and produce a workable strategy within the six-week deadline.

Responding on behalf of the panel, Belgore said the committee had received a working document that would be reviewed to identify gaps and strengthen the proposed implementation framework.

He said the committee would focus on immediate interventions while preparing reforms requiring consideration by the Federal Executive Council or the National Assembly.

Belgore added that further consultations would be held with stakeholders to build broad support and ensure that the reforms reflected the needs of professionals, developers, financiers, artisans and other participants in the housing industry.

Standardising professional practices and improving coordination among engineers, architects, builders, artisans and other construction workers will also form part of the reform process.

Managing Director of the Federal Mortgage Bank of Nigeria, Shehu Usman Osidi, welcomed the initiative but warned that sustained stakeholder engagement would be critical to its success.

Osidi recalled that previous efforts to amend the National Housing Fund and FMBN Acts, as well as a proposed ₦500 billion recapitalisation of the mortgage bank, encountered stakeholder resistance.

He advised the committee to apply lessons from those experiences and ensure that affected groups were properly consulted before major changes were implemented.

The Federal Housing Authority also pledged its cooperation with the committee and expressed confidence that the reforms could improve housing delivery across the country.

While the inauguration represents another step towards reforming the sector, the initiative’s success will depend on whether the committee’s recommendations are implemented, funded and supported by the necessary executive and legislative approvals.

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The Female Architects of Nigeria (FAN) has urged the Federal Government to reserve 30 per cent of housing units delivered through its programmes for women, persons with disabilities and other vulnerable Nigerians.

The association made the proposal during a courtesy visit to the Minister of Housing and Urban Development, Muttaqha Rabe Darma, in Abuja.

FAN, led by its Chairperson, Arc. Ene Agada, also proposed a partnership with the ministry to develop affordable and environmentally sustainable housing for female-headed households and other vulnerable groups.

The association said a targeted allocation would make government housing interventions more inclusive and ensure disadvantaged Nigerians benefit from public housing programmes.

FAN seeks wider housing partnership

Beyond housing allocation, the architects proposed collaboration with the ministry on resilient and accessible school infrastructure.

They also sought opportunities for women and young people to receive training in modern construction techniques, sustainable building, digital design and interior architecture.

According to FAN, the initiatives could help strengthen Nigeria’s built-environment workforce while creating employment and professional development opportunities for young Nigerians.

The association further requested government support for mentorship and internship placements for young women pursuing careers in architecture and construction.

FAN Chairperson Ene Agada said the association was prepared to contribute its professional expertise to government housing and urban-development initiatives.

She commended the minister’s efforts in housing delivery and sustainable urban development while expressing FAN’s willingness to support programmes within its professional capacity.

Minister challenges women professionals

Responding to the proposals, Darma urged female architects to combine their demand for greater participation with professional competence.

The minister said gender should not determine appointments or opportunities within the built environment.

“I encourage you to push yourselves beyond what you think you can attain,” Darma said, urging the professionals to demonstrate their capacity to take on greater responsibilities.

He added that the ministry already had female architects serving in senior positions, including directors and deputy directors.

Darma asked FAN to submit a formal proposal identifying specific initiatives that the association and ministry could implement jointly.

He also requested that the association return with a progress report at its next engagement, stressing the need to move from discussions to implementation.

“We thank you for the contributions you are making to this ministry, to the Council, and to your profession,” the minister said.

Housing reform creates opening for professionals

Permanent Secretary of the ministry, Dr Shuaib Belgore, described FAN’s visit as timely, noting that the minister had recently inaugurated a committee to accelerate reforms in the housing sector.

Belgore said professional bodies could contribute expertise and ideas to the reform process as the government seeks to improve housing delivery.

FAN’s proposal comes amid continuing efforts by professional bodies to influence housing policy and promote more affordable and sustainable construction.

The association has previously advocated greater participation by women in the built environment, while its current proposals extend that focus to housing access, skills development and professional advancement.

The immediate next step will depend on FAN submitting the formal proposals requested by the ministry and whether the government adopts any of the measures during its housing-sector reform process.

The 30 per cent allocation sought by FAN therefore remains a proposal, rather than an approved Federal Government housing policy.

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Building Materials Now Account for Up to 75% of Construction Costs — Experts

Industry stakeholders have warned that the escalating cost of building materials is making homeownership increasingly difficult and contributing to higher rents and abandoned construction projects across Nigeria.

Professor Bolaji Wahab, a former chairman of the Nigerian Institute of Building, said materials now represent between 65 and 75 per cent of the total cost of delivering a building project.

Wahab attributed the increases to Nigeria’s dependence on imported materials and inputs, foreign-exchange pressures, expensive energy, poor roads, high transportation costs, multiple taxes, insecurity and commercial lending rates reportedly reaching 26.5 per cent.

Building engineer Adekunle Balogun said a 50-kilogramme bag of cement, which sold for between ₦2,500 and ₦3,000 in 2020, now costs approximately ₦12,500 to ₦15,000, depending on the location.

He added that the price of a tonne of 12mm reinforcement steel had risen from about ₦250,000 to between ₦800,000 and ₦950,000. Blocks, roofing sheets, timber and nails have also recorded significant increases.

Stakeholders said the rising costs were forcing private builders to suspend projects while developers reduced the scale of planned developments. The resulting pressure on housing supply has also contributed to rent increases in major cities.

Wahab urged the government to support domestic manufacturing through single-digit financing, tax incentives, improved electricity supply and better transport infrastructure.

He also recommended increased investment in research, technical education and nationally recognised certification for construction artisans.

Greater local production of cement, steel, tiles, roofing materials and fittings, stakeholders argued, would reduce exposure to foreign-exchange fluctuations and make housing delivery more affordable.

Source: The Sun Nigeria.

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The Federal Ministry of Housing and Urban Development has expressed interest in expanding cooperation with TEC Engineering Company Nigeria Limited to support large-scale housing delivery and urban-renewal projects across the country.

Permanent Secretary of the ministry, Dr Shuaib Belgore, disclosed this while receiving a delegation from the company during a courtesy visit in Abuja.

TEC Engineering Company Nigeria Limited is a subsidiary of China Railway International Group.

Belgore said Nigeria remained open to credible investments and partnerships capable of supporting national development, particularly efforts to provide affordable housing and reduce the country’s housing shortage.

According to him, the ministry is pursuing several housing-delivery options, including direct government construction, public-private partnerships and collaboration with private developers possessing the capacity to execute projects on a large scale.

He said the Federal Government intends to make significant progress in addressing Nigeria’s estimated housing deficit of about 15 million units over the next decade. Achieving this objective, he noted, would require stronger private-sector participation.

The Permanent Secretary explained that the government’s urban-renewal programme extends beyond residential construction to the provision and improvement of essential infrastructure.

These interventions include roads, water supply, drainage systems, electricity, healthcare facilities and other amenities needed to improve living conditions within communities.

Belgore also commended TEC Engineering for the progress recorded on the reconstruction of covered conduits and roads in Kano State. He acknowledged delays in budgetary releases and urged the company to maintain the pace of work while the relevant funding provisions were being addressed.

President of China Railway International Group, Zhao Jinxiang, thanked the ministry for awarding the Kano project to TEC Engineering.

Jinxiang said the company would continue working on the project despite challenges encountered at the site.

He added that the delegation’s visit was intended to identify further areas of cooperation with the housing ministry, including urban infrastructure, underground ducts, wastewater management and sewage-treatment projects.

The discussions signal potential collaboration between the Federal Government and the Chinese engineering company. However, no specific housing target, investment value, project location or implementation timetable was announced.

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The Federal Government has pledged to include judicial officers and court personnel in its housing interventions across Nigeria.

The Minister of Housing and Urban Development, Muttaqha Darma, made this known in Abuja during a courtesy visit by the Administrator of the National Judicial Institute (NJI), retired Justice Babatunde Adejumo (OFR).

Darma said the ministry would carry the judiciary along as it implements housing projects across the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

FG Targets Nigeria’s Housing Deficit

The minister said the government remains committed to reducing Nigeria’s housing deficit, which he estimated at about 15 million units.

He acknowledged the scale of the challenge. However, he said sustained commitment, proper planning, strong partnerships and joint efforts could help reduce the gap.

Darma also assured judicial officers and court workers that they would not be excluded from federal housing programmes.

The minister said the housing ministry takes a broad national approach to its projects. The programmes cover different locations and levels of government, including states and local government areas.

He added that the ministry would continue to seek partnerships with institutions that can support the Renewed Hope Housing Agenda.

Judiciary Seeks Housing Consideration

Adejumo commended the Federal Government for its efforts to tackle the country’s housing shortage.

He also called on the ministry to consider the housing needs of judicial officers and court personnel when allocating homes under its housing programmes.

According to him, members of the judiciary and court staff also face housing challenges. He therefore expressed the NJI’s willingness to work with the ministry through lawful and legitimate partnerships.

Adejumo stressed that such cooperation must respect the independence and constitutional duties of the judiciary.

NJI Offers Training Support

The proposed partnership could also cover training and human capacity development.

Adejumo said the NJI has conference facilities and other resources that the ministry could use for relevant training programmes.

The institute provides training, capacity building and continuing education for judicial officers and court personnel.

He said cooperation between the two institutions could create opportunities for knowledge sharing and professional development.

The partnership could also help both organisations develop training programmes linked to the implementation of housing policies and programmes.

Housing and Public Sector Welfare

The discussion highlights the wider role of housing in public-sector welfare.

Government housing programmes do not only involve the construction of homes. They also involve land, infrastructure, finance, allocation and access to suitable locations.

For the housing and construction sectors, wider government housing programmes can also support demand for new developments. They can create opportunities for developers, contractors, financiers and other professionals across the property value chain.

The inclusion of judicial officers and court personnel could therefore form part of a broader effort to address housing needs among public-sector workers.

The Federal Government’s engagement with the NJI also shows the importance of institutional partnerships in delivering housing programmes. As Nigeria works to reduce its housing deficit, effective planning and transparent implementation will remain important to expanding access to decent housing.

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Ogun promotes flexible housing finance

The Ogun State Government is expanding its affordable housing programme as it seeks to help more residents become homeowners.

The government is using flexible financing, new housing projects and community regeneration to address some of the barriers to home ownership.

State Commissioner for Housing, Jamiu Omoniyi, disclosed this during an X community conversation on affordable housing, financing and opportunities in Ogun State. More than 2,500 people took part in the discussion.

Omoniyi said many prospective homeowners struggle with the high cost of construction. He also noted that many residents cannot afford to pay the full cost of a house at once.

Rent-to-Own scheme targets more residents

The commissioner highlighted the proposed Prince Court Estate at Kobape Phase IV as one of the projects offering a flexible route to home ownership.

He urged prospective buyers to consider the Rent-to-Own scheme for the estate. Gateway Mortgage Bank is partnering with the state government on the scheme.

The arrangement could help residents who cannot afford an outright property purchase. It allows the government to link housing delivery with a financing option for eligible beneficiaries.

Omoniyi said the state’s housing policy goes beyond building houses. He said the government also wants to create conditions that allow genuine beneficiaries to access and maintain their homes.

More housing projects across Ogun

The government has developed housing schemes in several parts of the state. These include Kobape Phases I–III, Kemta, Itanrin, Ikenne and Iperu.

According to Omoniyi, the projects target different groups of middle-income earners. The government has also expanded its intervention to existing communities through regeneration projects.

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These projects include areas such as Ibara GRA in Abeokuta and GRA Ijebu-Ode. The regeneration work aims to improve existing neighbourhoods while supporting economic activity in the built environment.

Housing projects create artisan jobs

Omoniyi also pointed to the impact of the ministry’s direct-labour approach.

He said more than 5,000 artisans had gained income opportunities through various housing project sites.

The approach allows local artisans to take part in housing construction. It also helps the ministry monitor projects more closely and reduce some construction costs.

The commissioner said the model also increases opportunities for local content providers within Ogun’s built environment.

Government subsidises land and infrastructure

Omoniyi described housing as a social service of government. He said the state subsidises land costs and provides major infrastructure within its estates.

These measures aim to reduce the financial burden on beneficiaries. Land, infrastructure and construction costs can significantly affect the final price of a home.

The government is also working to improve security of tenure for people who have subscribed to its housing schemes.

Omoniyi said the ministry was clearing a backlog of title documents. The process includes documentation for beneficiaries of estates delivered before 2019.

Ogun moves to protect genuine beneficiaries

The commissioner urged prospective homeowners to patronise the state’s housing schemes.

He said the ministry would continue to monitor developments after allocating houses and plots. It will also work to protect genuine beneficiaries and reduce speculation within government housing schemes.

The government said its wider objective is to turn affordable housing projects into secure and sustainable home ownership. It also wants housing construction to support economic activity across Ogun State.

Ogun’s approach shows why affordable housing requires more than the construction of new homes. Financing, land costs, infrastructure and secure property documentation all affect access to home ownership.

By combining housing development with flexible financing, community regeneration and title documentation, the state is seeking to address several parts of the housing challenge at the same time. The success of these efforts will depend on how effectively residents can access the schemes and sustain ownership over time.

The post Ogun Expands Affordable Housing Drive to Boost Home Ownership appeared first on Housing TV Africa.

By Adebayo Tobi

Nigeria’s housing conversation has focused heavily on one question: How many homes does the country need to build?

With the country facing a housing deficit estimated at more than 28 million units, increasing housing supply is clearly important. But there is another question that deserves just as much attention: How many Nigerians can actually afford the homes being delivered?

That question could define the next phase of Nigeria’s housing and real estate market.

Across Lagos, Abuja, Port Harcourt, Ibadan and other growing urban centres, residential development continues to expand. New estates, apartments and gated communities are appearing in areas where demand for housing remains strong.

Yet a growing number of Nigerians are finding themselves priced out of homeownership.

READ ALSO : Why Government JVs Struggle to Deliver Affordable Housing in Nigeria

The house may exist, but can people afford it?

Housing affordability is not simply about the price attached to a property.

For a prospective homeowner, affordability also depends on income, mortgage rates, deposit requirements, land costs, construction expenses, transportation, infrastructure charges and the general cost of living.

This means that a property can be technically available without being financially accessible.

A young professional may have a stable income and still struggle to raise the required deposit. A family may be able to afford monthly payments but not the initial equity contribution. Another household may find a property within its budget but reject it because its location creates unaffordable transportation costs.

These realities show why Nigeria’s housing challenge cannot be solved by construction alone.

The affordability gap is widening

The cost of delivering housing has become a major concern for developers and buyers.

Land, building materials, labour, infrastructure and financing all influence the final price of a property. When these costs rise, developers face pressure to increase selling prices or reduce the scale and specifications of projects.

Buyers, meanwhile, are dealing with household incomes that may not increase at the same pace as property prices.

This creates what can be described as an affordability gap  the distance between the cost of available housing and what households can realistically pay.

Closing that gap should become a central part of Nigeria’s housing conversation.

Developers must understand the real market

The private sector has an important role to play.

Developers naturally respond to market opportunities, and there will always be demand for premium residential developments. But Nigeria also needs housing products designed around the purchasing power of the broader population.

The question should not only be, “What can we build?”

It should also be:

“Who is the intended buyer, and can that buyer realistically afford it?”

This requires developers to pay closer attention to housing design, location, construction methods, infrastructure costs and payment structures.

Smaller but well-planned homes, efficient designs and phased developments could provide alternative ways of reducing the entry cost for some buyers.

Financing remains a critical piece

Even where property prices are relatively manageable, access to long-term housing finance remains important.

For many households, homeownership cannot be achieved through savings alone. A functioning mortgage market, longer repayment periods and suitable financing products can help spread the cost of purchasing a home over a period that is more consistent with household income.

Developers and financial institutions also have room to explore innovative payment models that can make property acquisition more accessible.

The objective should be simple: make the journey to homeownership financially realistic.

Government also has a role

The affordability challenge cannot be left entirely to developers.

Government policies on land, taxation, infrastructure, planning, building regulation and housing finance can significantly influence the cost of delivering homes.

Efficient land administration can reduce delays and uncertainty. Better infrastructure planning can reduce the burden developers pass on to buyers. Clear and predictable regulations can also improve the environment for housing investment.

At the same time, housing policy must recognise that affordable housing is not simply about constructing cheaper buildings. It is about creating communities where people can live safely and sustainably without housing consuming an unreasonable share of their income.

The opportunity in Nigeria’s housing market

Nigeria’s housing challenge is enormous, but so is the opportunity.

Millions of people need decent homes, while developers, investors, financial institutions and construction professionals are searching for sustainable opportunities.

The market can bring these interests together if affordability becomes a stronger part of the development equation.

Nigeria does not only need more houses.

It needs more homes that ordinary working Nigerians can realistically aspire to own.

The future of the housing industry should therefore be measured not only by the number of units delivered, but also by whether those units create genuine pathways to homeownership.

The biggest opportunity may be found in the space between what Nigerians need, what they earn, and what the market currently offers.

Bridging that gap will require collaboration, innovation and a willingness to rethink conventional approaches to housing delivery.

The post Nigeria’s Housing Market Needs Homes People Can Actually Afford appeared first on Housing TV Africa.

Joint ventures between governments and private developers are helping to increase Nigeria’s housing supply. However, experts say many of these projects still fail to reach low- and middle-income Nigerians.

Under a typical joint venture, government provides land and sometimes infrastructure. The private developer provides funding, construction skills and project management.

The model can reduce the burden of land acquisition. Yet the commercial structure of many projects often pushes house prices beyond what ordinary workers can afford.

High costs push up house prices

Private developers need to recover their construction and financing costs. They also need to make a profit. Government may also expect financial returns from the public land contributed to the project.

These costs eventually affect the selling price of the homes.

Rising construction costs have made the situation more difficult. Cement, steel, fittings and other building materials now account for a large share of development costs.

High financing costs add another burden. Developers who cannot access cheaper funds often depend on commercial bank loans. They then pass part of the financing cost to buyers.

Mortgage access remains a major barrier

Access to mortgages also limits the reach of JV housing projects.

Many low-income Nigerians work in the informal sector. Some have irregular incomes and cannot meet the requirements of formal mortgage providers.

Even when they qualify for loans, high interest rates and short repayment periods can make monthly payments too expensive.

As a result, many homes described as affordable eventually attract middle- and high-income buyers, investors and Nigerians living abroad.

Government support needs to go beyond land

Toye Eniola, Executive Secretary of the Association of Housing Corporations of Nigeria (AHCN), said the growing reliance on JVs had weakened social housing delivery.

According to Eniola, private developers naturally focus on recovering their investments and making profits. That approach makes higher-income markets more attractive than low-income housing.

He also said government-backed projects often face delays because of disagreements between partners and difficulties in securing funds.

Eniola argued that government must support social housing through land, infrastructure and cheaper finance. He also raised concerns about delays in accessing funds through housing finance institutions and government-backed programmes.

Construction costs squeeze developers

Olajide Dosunmu, Managing Director of Noble Grounds Limited, described JVs as a useful model but said high construction costs remained a major challenge.

He noted that cement plays an important role in several stages of construction. Dosunmu said the price of cement had increased from about N9,500-N10,000 to an average of N13,000-N14,000 over the six months referenced.

The higher costs make it harder for low-income buyers to meet mortgage payments.

Dosunmu said developers often prefer middle- and higher-income areas because homes sell faster in those markets. This allows developers to recover their costs more quickly.

He also warned that efforts to reduce construction costs in low-income areas could create pressure to lower building standards. Such compromises, he said, could affect the structural quality of housing.

Infrastructure subsidies could reduce costs

Dosunmu urged governments to provide infrastructure in areas selected for JV housing projects.

Roads, drainage, water supply and other basic infrastructure can add significantly to development costs. Government investment in these areas could reduce the amount developers need to spend before selling the homes.

He argued that government could also benefit from increased economic activity and tax revenue as new communities develop.

JVs still help unlock land

Rogba Orimalade, former Chairman of the Lagos branch of the Nigerian Institution of Estate Surveyors and Valuers (NIESV), said JVs remained an important tool for property development.

He noted that developers can use partnerships to gain access to land and create more housing units.

However, Orimalade said high land and development costs continue to exclude low-income households from many JV projects.

He called for lower development charges, approval fees and consent costs. Reducing these expenses, he said, could encourage developers to increase housing supply.

Clearer rules needed for affordable housing

Experts say successful JVs require clear agreements between government and private partners.

Such agreements should define each party’s responsibilities, project timelines, funding arrangements, risks and profit-sharing terms. Clear rules can also reduce disputes that delay construction.

However, affordability must remain a central part of the arrangement. Government land and other public incentives should come with clear targets for the number and price of affordable homes.

Nigeria needs more housing, but supply alone will not solve the affordability problem. If JV projects continue to focus mainly on buyers who can pay market prices, low-income households will remain excluded.

A stronger approach would combine public land with infrastructure support, cheaper finance, lower development charges and workable mortgage arrangements. Such measures could help government-private partnerships serve not only the property market, but also Nigerians who need affordable homes most.

The post Why Government JVs Struggle to Deliver Affordable Housing in Nigeria appeared first on Housing TV Africa.