The Federal Government has announced a strategic partnership with Shelter Afrique Development (ShafDB) to deliver 5,000 housing units as part of its ongoing efforts to provide affordable housing for Nigerians. The Minister of Housing and Urban Development, Ahmed Dangiwa, disclosed this initiative during a recent briefing on the ministry’s achievements over the past year.
Under the partnership, the Pan-African housing institution will support the Renewed Hope Program by offering advisory services and financing for capable developers. This pilot scheme, targeting the construction of 5,000 housing units, marks a significant milestone as the first direct collaboration between the ministry and a multilateral institution to build homes for Nigerians.
Highlighting Nigeria’s role as the second-largest shareholder in ShafDB, with a subscription exceeding $29 million, Dangiwa reaffirmed the government’s commitment to exploring all possible financing options to address the nation’s significant housing deficit.
Upon assuming office, the minister developed an action plan aligned with President Bola Tinubu’s priorities, focusing on reforms and initiatives to increase access to affordable housing and unlock the potential of the housing sector. Despite financial constraints, Dangiwa emphasized the importance of leveraging relationships with bilateral and multilateral institutions, particularly where Nigeria has substantial interests.
The past year has seen substantial progress, including ongoing discussions with the World Bank regarding land reform under the National Land Titling Programme. This initiative aims to partner with state governments to improve land formalization from less than 10 percent to 50 percent over the next decade, establishing a comprehensive and efficient land registration system nationwide.
In addition to advancing the Federal Land Information System (FELIS), a digital platform for centralizing federal land records, the ministry has also made significant strides in increasing the stock of affordable and decent housing. The groundbreaking for 6,612 housing units across 13 locations nationwide under the Renewed Hope Cities and Estates Programme is a key achievement, with homes soon available through a range of affordable ownership options, including single-digit mortgage loans with up to 30-year terms, provided by the Federal Mortgage Bank of Nigeria.
Over the past months, the Renewed Hope Housing portal has seen significant interest, with over 47,605 Nigerians registering to express their intent for homeownership. In the last two weeks alone, the website attracted over 250,000 visitors, leading to 8,925 Expressions of Interest across various purchase options.
Dangiwa confirmed that the ministry has begun issuing provisional allocation letters for outright purchases, with successful applicants already receiving keys. Mortgage applications are currently being processed by the Federal Mortgage Bank of Nigeria.
Looking ahead, the ministry plans to break ground on 2,000 housing units in Lagos and 1,500 units in Kano next month through public-private partnerships and the FMBN. Additionally, lands have been acquired in Enugu and Borno for the construction of 2,000 housing units in each location under similar arrangements. Other planned projects include 2,000 units each in Nasarawa and Rivers states.
Credit: NAN (Text Excluding Headline)
