About 430 staff members of the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) are set to benefit from a housing initiative under the Federal Government’s Renewed Hope Housing Programme.

The Minister of Housing and Urban Development, Engr. Dr. Muttaqha Rabe Darma, disclosed this on Wednesday in Abuja during the presentation of houses to the beneficiaries.

Darma said the initiative formed part of efforts to make home ownership more affordable for Nigerian workers and reduce the burden of rent on household incomes.

FG Targets 40–60% Rent Burden

The minister said the government was working to ensure workers no longer spend between 40 and 60 per cent of their income on rent.

“We are going to assure that in this country workers don’t spend 40 to 60 per cent of their income on rent,” Darma said.

He said reducing the amount workers spend on accommodation would ease financial pressure and allow families to meet other basic needs.

Darma also linked the high cost of housing to broader economic challenges, saying excessive housing costs could indirectly create incentives for corruption.

FG Targets 250,000 Abandoned Housing Units

The minister said the government was also reviewing abandoned housing projects nationwide as part of efforts to increase the country’s housing stock.

According to him, about 250,000 housing units in abandoned projects could potentially be recovered and made available to Nigerians, including civil servants.

“We are taking stock of them. We are taking statistics. We are moving to each and every state where we have these abandoned properties,” he said.

Darma said the Federal Government was engaging state governors on the possibility of taking over or acquiring some abandoned projects for allocation to civil servants and other Nigerians.

He also identified the rising costs of land, building materials and infrastructure as major challenges facing prospective homeowners.

Social Housing Programme to Cover 774 LGAs

The minister said the government was exploring financing options, including the National Housing Fund and mortgage facilities, particularly for workers in the informal sector.

He added that the planned social housing programme would target communities across the country, including the 774 local government areas.

The initiative is expected to involve partnerships among federal institutions, state governments, mortgage institutions, developers and private investors.

Darma urged government agencies and stakeholders to focus on delivering actual housing projects rather than limiting efforts to policy announcements.

430 NMDPRA Staff to Benefit

Speaking at the ceremony, NMDPRA Chief Executive Mallam Rabiu Abdullahi Umar said the authority was committed to improving staff welfare through initiatives that enhance productivity and wellbeing.

He said access to housing would provide greater security and stability for beneficiaries while strengthening their commitment to their responsibilities.

The NMDPRA chief commended the Federal Government, Ministry of Housing and Urban Development, Federal Mortgage Bank of Nigeria (FMBN) and other partners involved in the programme.

The President of the NMDPRA Staff Cooperative Society, Abdullahi Danladi Auta, described the housing allocation as a significant milestone.

Auta said about 430 NMDPRA workers would benefit from the initiative, with projects located in Abuja, Kano and Lagos.

365 Housing Units Earmarked for Abuja

The Chief Commercial Officer of Renewed Hope SPV Limited, Dare Makinde, said the first phase would provide different categories of housing units to NMDPRA staff.

The houses include two-bedroom and three-bedroom flats, as well as three-bedroom terraces with boys’ quarters and other categories across the project locations.

Makinde said 365 housing units were earmarked for Abuja, with additional units to be delivered in Kano and Lagos.

He also disclosed that the second phase of the project would commence in the coming year.

FMBN Managing Director Shehu Usman Osidi congratulated the beneficiaries and commended the partnership between NMDPRA, the Renewed Hope Housing Programme and other stakeholders.

He said the initiative demonstrated how collaboration could expand access to affordable housing and create more opportunities for workers to become homeowners.

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The Federal Government has handed over completed housing units to beneficiaries under its Rent-to-Own Scheme in Abuja, reaffirming its commitment to expanding affordable homeownership and reducing Nigeria’s housing deficit through innovative housing finance initiatives. The homes were developed by Brains & Hammers Limited with funding from the Federal Mortgage Bank of Nigeria (FMBN) under the Renewed Hope Housing Programme.

Speaking during the symbolic presentation of keys, the Minister of Housing and Urban Development, Dr. Muttaqha Rabe Darma, said the initiative reflects President Bola Tinubu’s commitment to making decent and affordable housing accessible to more Nigerians. He described homeownership as a central pillar of the administration’s Renewed Hope Agenda and pledged that all approved beneficiaries under the Rent-to-Own Scheme would receive the keys to their homes before the end of the year.

The minister noted that the scheme provides an affordable pathway to homeownership, particularly for low- and middle-income earners who may not be able to afford the large upfront payments required to purchase homes outright. He added that the programme is designed to ease the burden of rising rents in major cities such as Abuja and Lagos while improving the welfare and living standards of Nigerians.

Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of FMBN, Shehu Usman Osidi, explained that the delivery of the housing units, known as Bungalow City, experienced initial allocation challenges after part of the estate was assigned to security agencies. He said the bank established a joint technical committee with Brains & Hammers Limited to resolve the issues, ensuring that every profiled beneficiary received a home.

Osidi reaffirmed FMBN’s commitment to supporting the Federal Government’s affordable housing agenda through accessible mortgage financing and strategic partnerships with private developers. He said the bank would continue to expand opportunities for Nigerians to own homes through flexible financing models capable of addressing the country’s housing deficit.

Speaking on behalf of the beneficiaries, Sanusi Seidu Dantsoho expressed appreciation to the Federal Government and FMBN for providing many Nigerians with the opportunity to become homeowners. He pledged that residents would work together to maintain a peaceful, orderly, and well-managed estate while encouraging the government to sustain similar affordable housing programmes across the country.

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The Federal Mortgage Bank of Nigeria (FMBN) has said its newly developed National Mortgage Registry will strengthen transparency, improve access to mortgage information, and restore confidence in Nigeria’s real estate market. The digital platform, which has been approved by the National Council on Housing, is designed to serve as a central repository for mortgage transaction records across the country.

Speaking at a stakeholders’ workshop on the validation of the National Housing Data Programme Report and the proposed National Housing and Built Environment Regulation Policy in Abuja, FMBN Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, Shehu Usman Osidi, disclosed that the registry has reached a major milestone and is ready for deployment. He explained that stakeholder engagement, data collection, cleansing, and validation are currently underway before the system becomes fully operational.

According to Osidi, the registry will provide a reliable digital database of mortgage transactions, enabling financial institutions, regulators, and other stakeholders to verify mortgage information more efficiently. He said the initiative is expected to strengthen risk management, improve transparency, reduce fraud, and increase investor confidence in Nigeria’s housing finance sector.

The FMBN boss noted that the success of the mortgage registry will depend on collaboration among federal and state governments, land registries, financial institutions, mortgage banks, developers, professional bodies, and other industry stakeholders. He added that the project complements the National Housing Data Programme by providing credible information to support housing policy, investment decisions, and mortgage financing.

Osidi reiterated that reliable housing and mortgage data are essential to addressing Nigeria’s housing deficit and expanding access to affordable homeownership. He maintained that a transparent mortgage system will improve confidence among investors, lenders, developers, and prospective homeowners while supporting sustainable growth in the real estate sector.

Industry stakeholders described the National Mortgage Registry as a significant step towards modernising Nigeria’s housing finance ecosystem. They believe the platform will improve mortgage documentation, enhance property transaction security, strengthen consumer protection, and promote greater accountability across the real estate industry.

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He made this proposal during a press briefing marking his one-year anniversary at the bank’s headquarters in Abuja.

Osidi stressed that taxing vacant homes would push property owners to rent or sell, boosting the supply of affordable housing.

“This policy could unlock thousands of empty homes, giving more Nigerians a chance at decent living conditions,” he said.

Under his leadership, FMBN has ramped up efforts to make homeownership accessible. The bank recently signed a landmark agreement with the Kano State Government, bringing civil servants back into the National Housing Fund (NHF) Scheme.

Through the NHF, FMBN offers low-interest mortgage loans tailored to low and middle-income earners, including single-digit mortgages, home renovation loans, rent-to-own schemes, and non-interest products, all aimed at making affordable housing a reality for millions of Nigerians.

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This strategic blueprint, which seeks to position FMBN as a leader in the mortgage finance industry, was revealed during his opening address at the 2024 Management Retreat, held at Zuma Rock Resort, Suleja.

Osidi emphasized that the bank’s ability to overcome current challenges and significantly impact national development hinges on the successful implementation of this agenda.

“Our ability to successfully navigate these difficult times depends on our commitment to improving operational efficiency and delivering exceptional customer service,” he asserted.

The 7-point agenda covers critical areas including deepening process automation, promoting cost efficiency, enhancing credit quality, effective project management, expanding strategic partnerships, enthroning a robust organizational performance management system, and standardized capacity building.

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Osidi expressed concern over the bank’s previous failed attempts at process automation but reaffirmed the commitment of the current management to achieve success this time around.

“We must make the core banking application work, recognizing the peculiarities of our business and the resources we have expended on the project,” he stated, urging staff to address existing challenges and push the automation agenda forward.

In addition to automation, Osidi highlighted the need for stringent cost-efficiency measures, which have yielded positive results. “We have had a remarkable reduction in our expenditure while our revenue and income have been growing steadily,” he noted, adding that continued focus on this area would further enhance the bank’s financial sustainability.

On the issue of non-performing loans (NPLs), Osidi outlined steps taken to improve credit quality, including the inauguration of 7 Recovery Task Teams to tackle delinquent loans across Nigeria.

Osidi also called for effective project management and the expansion of strategic partnerships to scale FMBN’s impact. He revealed that recent engagements with institutions such as MOFI, CBN, and Shelter Afrique Development Bank have already begun to yield tangible results, including the recovery of N12 billion previously trapped by the Office of the Accountant General of the Federation (OAGF).

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“Expanding strategic partnerships with key stakeholders is crucial to our success. By building and nurturing these partnerships, we can leverage synergies, access new resources, and accelerate the delivery of affordable housing across Nigeria,” he explained.

As the retreat continues, Osidi called on all participants to engage actively and creatively in discussions aimed at identifying areas for improvement and devising solutions that will drive FMBN forward.

The retreat, which will run from August 26 to 29, is expected to set the stage for FMBN’s future operations, focusing on sustainable growth and maximizing the bank’s developmental impact across Nigeria.

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