FG Moves to Complete Abandoned Housing Projects Across Nigeria

The Federal Government has commenced a nationwide review of abandoned housing projects to determine their condition, level of completion and the interventions required to restore them for use.

The Minister of Housing and Urban Development, Muttaqa Darma, disclosed this on Wednesday during an inspection of an abandoned National Housing Programme (NHP) estate in the Kubwa-Karsana District of Abuja.

Darma expressed concern over the continued abandonment of government housing projects, stressing that public assets must be completed and made available to Nigerians.

He said the Federal Government would take decisive steps to upgrade and complete viable abandoned housing projects across the country as part of efforts to increase the supply of affordable and decent homes.

“The Federal Government would take decisive steps to upgrade and complete viable abandoned housing projects across the country, with the objective of delivering more affordable and decent homes to Nigerians,” he said.

The minister said the government could no longer allow housing projects initiated with public funds to remain abandoned for extended periods.

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

He described the abandoned developments as public investments that should be preserved, completed and put to productive use for the benefit of Nigerians.

“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.

According to Darma, the nationwide review is part of the Federal Government’s efforts to advance the Renewed Hope Housing Agenda and improve access to affordable and decent accommodation.

He explained that the assessment would help the government identify projects that remain viable and can be prioritised for completion, while existing housing infrastructure would also be rehabilitated where necessary to ensure optimal utilisation.

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

Darma said the government was determined to increase housing delivery and reduce the country’s housing deficit before the end of 2026.

He added that recovering and completing abandoned housing projects would complement the construction of new housing developments being undertaken under existing Federal Government housing programmes.

The minister noted that making use of existing investments would enable the government to deliver housing more efficiently while preventing resources already committed to abandoned projects from being wasted.

He also stressed the importance of ensuring transparency in the allocation of completed housing units.

According to him, completed units would be allocated transparently to deserving Nigerians, while the outcome of the assessment would guide the government’s decisions on the completion, rehabilitation and eventual allocation of the projects.

The inspection of the abandoned NHP estate in Kubwa-Karsana is part of the government’s broader assessment of housing developments across the country as it seeks to recover viable public housing investments and bring them back into use.

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…….Asks FG to disclose how many National Housing Programme homes are completed, occupied, vacant or abandoned nationwide

The Housing Development Advocacy Network (HDAN) has called for a comprehensive audit of the abandoned National Housing Programme (NHP) estate in Kubwa-Karsana, Abuja, while asking the Federal Government to disclose the current status of NHP estates across the country.

The call followed the inspection of the Kubwa-Karsana project by the Minister of Housing and Urban Development, Engr. Muttaqa Rabe Darma, as part of the government’s assessment of abandoned federal housing assets.

HDAN welcomed the move but said the exercise should go beyond inspecting and rehabilitating abandoned buildings to establish why publicly funded housing projects were left unfinished in the first place.

“Nigerians deserve to know what happened to these projects, how much public money has already been committed and what it will now cost to complete them,” the organisation said.

HDAN said the Kubwa-Karsana estate should become a test case for how Nigeria identifies, audits, recovers and completes abandoned public housing projects.

According to the organisation, government should disclose when the project commenced, its original scope, number of units proposed, contractors engaged, funds appropriated and released, percentage completion and reasons construction stopped.

It also recommended an independent structural and financial assessment before additional public funds are committed.

HDAN ASKS: WHERE ARE THE OTHER NHP HOUSES?

HDAN said the investigation should not stop at Kubwa-Karsana, calling for a state-by-state audit of the National Housing Programme.

“Nigerians deserve to know how many houses were proposed under the NHP, how many were started, how many were completed, how many were allocated and fully paid for, and most importantly, how many Nigerian families are actually living in them today,” HDAN said.

The organisation also wants government to disclose the number of completed houses that remain vacant, units that are illegally occupied and projects that remain abandoned, uncompleted or deteriorating.

According to HDAN, the performance of a public housing programme should not be measured merely by the number of houses announced, constructed, commissioned or allocated.

“The real test of housing delivery is how many families have actually moved into decent and affordable homes,” it said.

HDAN therefore called on the Federal Ministry of Housing and Urban Development to publish an estate-by-estate status report showing the number of units started, completed, sold, allocated, fully paid for, legitimately occupied, vacant, illegally occupied and abandoned.

It also wants the government to explain why any completed NHP houses remain unoccupied despite the country’s substantial demand for affordable housing.

Where the problems involve pricing, infrastructure, mortgage access, allocation, documentation, roads, electricity or water, HDAN said they should be identified and addressed.

“Nigeria cannot be facing a serious housing affordability challenge while publicly funded houses remain abandoned, unfinished or empty,” the organisation stated.

CREATE NATIONAL REGISTER OF ABANDONED HOUSING

HDAN also called for the establishment of a National Register of Abandoned and Uncompleted Public Housing Projects.

The proposed register would identify abandoned federal housing developments, their locations, number of units, percentage completion, amount already invested, present condition, reasons for abandonment and estimated cost of completion.

Projects could then be classified for completion, rehabilitation, restructuring, private-sector partnership or redevelopment.

HDAN said government should adopt a policy of recovering viable existing housing investments while continuing to construct new homes where necessary.

“An abandoned estate represents more than unfinished buildings. It represents land that is not producing housing, public capital that is not generating value and homes that Nigerian families cannot occupy,” it said.

DON’T JUST COMPLETE THEM — MAKE THEM AFFORDABLE

HDAN cautioned that recovering abandoned estates would achieve little if the completed houses are eventually priced beyond the reach of intended beneficiaries.

It advocated affordable mortgages, rent-to-own and other structured payment arrangements, particularly for low- and middle-income households.

Allocation should also be transparent and supported by safeguards preventing speculative acquisition of subsidised public housing.

HDAN further proposed a digital monitoring system for government housing projects, with clear construction and delivery milestones to identify delayed projects before they become abandoned.

The organisation said the Federal Government’s nationwide assessment provides an opportunity to answer a fundamental question:

“Where are the houses delivered under the National Housing Programme, what condition are they in, and how many Nigerian families are actually living in them?”

HDAN said the government should ultimately publish clear figures showing how many NHP houses were started, how many were completed, how many are occupied, how many remain vacant and how many have been abandoned or left unfinished.

It added that the Kubwa-Karsana project could be transformed from a symbol of stranded public investment into a model for recovering unfinished housing assets across Nigeria.

HDAN is a leading civil society and research-driven housing advocacy organisation promoting affordable, accessible and sustainable housing in Nigeria and across Africa. Its advocacy covers housing affordability, finance, land administration, real estate regulation, consumer protection, housing data and sustainable housing delivery.

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The Federal Government has opened a fresh verification exercise for genuine land allottees affected by the revocation of housing plots in Dukpa, Gwagwalada, Abuja.

The Federal Ministry of Housing and Urban Development will begin the exercise on September 7, 2026. It will run for three weeks.

The ministry said the exercise will help identify genuine allottees before the government relocates them to another site in Gwagwalada.

FG Sets Three-Week Verification Window

The ministry has asked all affected allottees to use the three-week period to prove their claims.

It warned that it will not extend the deadline. Any allottee or plot that misses the verification exercise will not qualify for relocation to the new site.

The ministry will conduct the exercise only on working days.

Badamasi Haiba, Director of Press and Public Relations at the ministry, urged affected members of the public to submit all required documents within the approved period.

Documents Allottees Must Provide

Applicants must present documents that support their land allocation and ownership claims.

The required documents include the original and photocopy of the Letter of Allocation. Applicants must also provide payment receipts and a valid means of identification.

They must submit a sworn affidavit that supports their ownership claim. They must also provide passport photographs.

The ministry will use these documents to assess the claims and identify genuine beneficiaries.

Where the Verification Will Take Place

The exercise will take place at two locations in Abuja.

One centre is the office of the Presidential Technical Committee on Land Reform (PTCLR) in Garki 2.

The second location is the Department of Lands and Housing Development at the Federal Ministry of Housing and Urban Development headquarters in Mabushi.

Affected allottees should attend the exercise during working days within the three-week period.

Why the Government Revoked the Land

The land has a history that dates back to 1992.

The then Federal Ministry of Works and Housing allocated residential and service plots in the Dukpa scheme for private development.

The Federal Government later revoked the allocations and other interests in the area. It cited the need to use the land for the National Housing Programme (NHP).

The government now plans to relocate genuine allottees to another site within Gwagwalada.

Government Cites Land Use Act

The Ministry of Housing and Urban Development said the relocation process follows Section 28(2B) of the Land Use Act, Cap 202, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria (as amended).

The ministry said it has secured an alternative site within Gwagwalada for eligible allottees.

The final verification will help the government confirm which claims qualify for the relocation.

Implications for Abuja Housing

The development highlights the role of proper land records in Abuja’s housing market.

Clear land records can help reduce disputes between property owners, developers and government agencies. They can also support better planning and faster housing development.

Gwagwalada remains part of the wider growth of the Federal Capital Territory. As development expands beyond Abuja’s central districts, land management will remain important for housing and infrastructure projects.

For affected allottees, the September 7 deadline is critical. They must present the required documents during the three-week window to have their claims considered.

The Federal Government’s next step will depend on the outcome of the verification. Only claims that meet the government’s requirements will form part of the planned relocation.

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The Federal Government has reaffirmed its commitment to expanding access to affordable housing with the handover of 24 housing units to the University of Ilesa in Osun State.

The houses, constructed under the National Housing Programme (NHP), are aimed at improving staff welfare and boosting productivity within the institution.

Boosting staff welfare and productivity

Speaking at the university, the Minister of Housing and Urban Development, Ahmed Dangiwa, described the project as a strategic intervention to support key national institutions.

Represented by Pemi Samuel Temitope, Director of Public Buildings and Housing Development, the minister stressed that access to decent housing remains a top priority for the government.

He noted that quality accommodation is essential for stability, efficiency, and overall national development, especially within the education sector.

Support for academic institutions

Dangiwa emphasised the critical role of universities in driving innovation and human capital development, adding that such institutions must be supported with adequate infrastructure.

According to him, the housing units will provide a conducive living environment for staff, ultimately enhancing productivity and contributing to academic excellence.

He also commended the university’s management for its collaboration with the ministry, describing it as a model of effective partnership between government and public institutions.

University reacts to development

In his remarks, Vice Chancellor Taiwo Olufemi Asaolu described the handover as a major milestone in the institution’s growth.

He noted that the development would support plans to establish a Faculty of Technology and expand academic programmes.

The Vice Chancellor revealed that the institution had faced significant accommodation challenges, particularly in meeting accreditation requirements for courses such as Law, Medicine, Nursing, and Medical Laboratory Science.

He added that the university previously converted classrooms into temporary hostels due to limited housing facilities.

Infrastructure for future growth

Asaolu disclosed that the university has been shortlisted by the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund) for high-impact intervention projects.

He said the newly acquired housing units would provide the critical infrastructure needed to support expansion and improve overall institutional capacity.

Government reiterates commitment

The minister urged the university to ensure proper maintenance and effective use of the facilities to guarantee long-term sustainability.

He also reaffirmed the government’s commitment to implementing policies that improve living standards and expand access to affordable housing nationwide.

The development highlights ongoing efforts by the Federal Government to support education and infrastructure through targeted housing interventions.

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