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.

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The Federal Government has approved a new housing loan ceiling for civil servants, allowing Permanent Secretaries to access up to ₦25 million under the revised Federal Government Staff Housing Loans Board scheme.

A memo signed by the Head of Civil Service of the Federation, Didi Walson-Jack, said the review aims to improve workers’ welfare and support home ownership among federal employees.

“In line with the government’s commitment to enhance the welfare of its workforce, the ceiling for housing loans has been reviewed upwards,” the memo stated.

Under the new structure, Permanent Secretaries can get ₦25m; Level 17 officers ₦14m; Levels 15–16 ₦12m; Levels 12–14 ₦10m; Levels 8–10 ₦8m; Levels 5–7 ₦6m; and Levels 3–4 ₦5m.

Before now, the highest-ranking civil servants could access only ₦15m.

The loans will be repaid over 25 years, depending on age. Retirees must clear outstanding balances from non-salary sources, while the board may take possession of property if repayment is incomplete.

A former ASCSN President, Tommy Etim, hailed the move as long overdue, noting it makes the loan more meaningful and fairer across all cadres.

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The agreement was signed in Nouakchott. It aims to improve housing for low- and middle-income families across the country.

The loan will fund two key projects. First, 1,000 homes will be built in Zouérat, a town in northern Mauritania. Second, 1,000 fully serviced plots will be developed in Tevragh Zeina, a district in Nouakchott.

These plots will benefit both local residents and members of the Mauritanian diaspora.

According to Thierno-Habib Hann, Managing Director of Shelter Afrique, the project addresses urgent housing needs. He said Mauritania’s urban areas are growing fast, with a 4% annual increase. He added that the country has a housing deficit of about 50,000 units.

“Our partnership with BMI will help many families own safe and affordable homes,” he said.

Mohamed Yahya Sidi, Managing Director of BMI, shared his views on the agreement. He said the deal confirms BMI’s strong support for housing development.

“This project will support our economy and help more people access proper housing,” he said.

The project is expected to create around 5,000 jobs. It will benefit over 12,000 people and support 2,000 families. These families will either buy homes directly or build them themselves.

Shelter Afrique Development Bank was established in 1981. It is owned by 44 African nations, the African Development Bank, and the Africa Reinsurance Corporation.

The bank supports housing and infrastructure across Africa. It focuses on lending, partnerships, and sustainable urban development.

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Traditionally focused on mortgage financing, FMBN has expanded its offerings to include housing construction and a rent-to-own product, allowing renters to eventually own the property they live in after paying rent over a specified period.

Shehu Osidi, the bank’s managing director, disclosed this in Abuja, emphasizing the institution’s response to the growing demand for affordable housing financing. FMBN’s clientele has expanded beyond primary mortgage banks to encompass private and public real estate developers.

“Our clientele also includes housing cooperatives and individual NHF contributors for home self-construction. The latest additions to our loan products are the Home Improvement and Rent Assistance loans, which are micro-housing loans specifically intended for, but not exclusive to, the non-salaried informal sector,” Osidi explained.

Osidi made these remarks at the Africa International Housing Show (AIHS), themed ‘Financing the Housing We Need,’ where he delivered a keynote address titled ‘New Dawn at FMBN.’

Expanding Access to Housing Finance

FMBN’s latest initiatives aim to address Nigeria’s severe housing deficit, which Vice President Kashim Shettima estimated at a N21 trillion finance gap. According to a 2018 PwC survey, over 75% of Nigeria’s 42 million housing units do not meet UN Habitat standards.

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The same report estimated the value of ‘dead capital’—unrealised earnings from underutilized housing assets—at approximately US$300 billion, equating to 60% of the national GDP.

Despite these challenges, Osidi noted that FMBN has consistently met the housing needs of Nigerians within its resource limits. Since its re-establishment in 1993, the bank has delivered about 39,000 new homes, provided around 25,500 mortgages, and issued over 120,000 micro-housing loans, all at single-digit interest rates.

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Under the National Housing Fund (NHF) Scheme, FMBN has registered 26,350 organizations and over 5.8 million cumulative contributors, with over one million self-employed contributors. The bank has disbursed N440 billion through various loan windows to support affordable housing finance.

Commitment to Transformation and Future Goals

Osidi assured stakeholders of the current executive management’s commitment to transforming FMBN into a more responsive institution that fulfills its promises. Upon assuming office in February, the new management unveiled a seven-point agenda aimed at positioning the bank for future growth and efficiency.

“Accordingly, after careful and critical examination of the bank and where it needs to be in the nearest future, the new executive management unveiled a seven-point agenda on assumption of office in February this year,” he said.

The agenda aims to align FMBN’s operations with the aspirations of its stakeholders, including shareholders, contributors, loan beneficiaries, regulators, partners, and staff.

The post FMBN Expands Housing Loan Portfolio to Include Informal Sector appeared first on Housing TV Africa.