The Minister of Housing and Urban Development, Arc. Ahmed Musa Dangiwa, has stressed the need for stronger collaboration between developers, government institutions, and private sector stakeholders if Nigeria is to effectively address its housing crisis.
Dangiwa made this call on Tuesday during the commissioning of the Federal Housing Authority (FHA) Express View Estate and FHA Complex, Lugbe, Abuja, where he reiterated President Bola Tinubu’s commitment to making housing a central pillar of the Renewed Hope Agenda.
Nigeria’s Alarming Housing Gap
According to UN-Habitat, Nigeria’s housing deficit remains one of the largest in Africa. Estimates range from 20 million to 28 million units, underscoring a worsening situation that has escalated over the decades. The shortfall rose from 7 million in 1991 to 12 million in 2007, reaching 14 million in 2010, and has now climbed to unprecedented levels.
With Nigeria’s fast-growing population, experts warn that the gap could widen further if urgent measures are not taken to expand supply and improve affordability.
Dangiwa: Partnerships are Key to Progress
In his address, the minister emphasized that solving the crisis will require pooling resources from both public and private sectors.
“To really change the story of housing in Nigeria, we need stronger partnerships — between FHA, the Federal Mortgage Bank of Nigeria (FMBN), developers, mortgage institutions, cooperatives, pension funds, and the private sector. We must mobilize resources not just from government, but from every available source, so that we can build at scale and bring costs down,” Dangiwa said.
He commended FHA’s Managing Director, Hon. Oyetunde Ojo, and his team for delivering on the authority’s mandate, adding that the commissioning was not just ceremonial but a demonstration of tangible progress.
“A home is more than four walls and a roof. It is dignity. It is security. It is the foundation for raising families and building stronger communities. That is why Mr. President made housing a priority under Renewed Hope — to close the housing gap, grow our cities in an orderly way, and ensure that every Nigerian, whatever their status, can have a safe place to call home,” he added.
Symbol of Renewed Hope Agenda
Dangiwa described the commissioning as a practical expression of Tinubu’s agenda, pointing out that projects like the FHA Express View Estate create jobs during construction, provide homes for families, and create new business spaces.
“Today’s commissioning is a proud moment… but it is also a reminder of how much more we need to do,” he said.
FHA: Delivering on Mandate
Earlier, FHA’s Managing Director, Hon. Oyetunde Ojo, disclosed that the Express View Estate being commissioned was only the first phase of a larger project.
“This phase comprises about 50 units of terraces and flats. On full completion, the project will deliver around 110 housing units to Nigeria’s national housing stock. It is a partnership project that started in 2021 between the FHA and BAM Properties,” Ojo explained.
He reaffirmed the authority’s readiness to continue working with partners to expand housing delivery across the country.
Call for Mortgage Reforms
In his contribution, the Chairman of the House of Representatives Committee on Housing, Hon. Abdulmumin Jibrin, pointed out the challenge of affordability for many Nigerians.
“Sometimes when you build these houses, there is also the challenge of whether the end user has the capacity to pay,” he said.
Jibrin stressed the need for government to inject more funds into the mortgage market, ensuring that low-income and no-income earners are not excluded from accessing decent housing.
Looking Forward
With Nigeria’s housing deficit nearing crisis levels, stakeholders at the event agreed that only through sustained collaboration, innovative financing, and government-backed reforms can the dream of affordable housing for all Nigerians be realised.
