the Federal Ministry of Housing and Urban Development, under the leadership of Honourable Minister Arc. Ahmed Musa Dangiwa, has unveiled a transformative plan to disburse 753 recovered housing units to Nigerians in a semi-finished state. This initiative, part of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, aims to make homeownership more accessible and affordable while ensuring quality and transparency in the housing allocation process. The announcement, made during a recent inspection of a confiscated housing estate in Abuja, marks a significant milestone in Nigeria’s quest to bridge its estimated 20-million-unit housing gap.
A Strategic Approach to Affordable Housing
The 753-unit estate, previously linked to former Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Governor Godwin Emefiele, was recovered by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and handed over to the Ministry of Housing and Urban Development on May 20, 2025, following a directive from President Tinubu. During a joint site inspection with EFCC Chairman Mr. Olanipekun Olukoyede, Minister Dangiwa outlined the Ministry’s vision to elevate these homes to a semi-finished level before making them available for public purchase through the Renewed Hope Portal. This online platform, already operational, is designed to streamline the home acquisition process with flexible payment options, including single-digit mortgage loans, rent-to-own schemes, and outright purchases for high-income earners.
“We want to take the houses to a particular level of semi-finished before we disburse them to the Nigerian public,” Dangiwa stated, emphasizing the importance of delivering homes that are structurally sound yet customizable to meet individual preferences and budgets. This semi-finished approach allows buyers to complete the finishing touches—such as painting, tiling, and fixtures—based on their financial capacity, thereby reducing the upfront cost of homeownership. The strategy aligns with the Ministry’s broader goal of creating an inclusive housing market that caters to low- and medium-income Nigerians, particularly members of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and Trade Union Congress (TUC).
The Renewed Hope Agenda
The initiative is a cornerstone of the Renewed Hope Cities and Estates Programme, launched by President Tinubu in February 2024 at Karsana, Abuja. This ambitious program targets the delivery of 50,000 housing units nationwide in its first phase, with 1,000-unit Cities in each of the six geopolitical zones and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), and 500-unit Estates in the remaining 30 states. The program’s design prioritizes affordability and inclusivity, offering a range of housing types—from one-bedroom flats to five-bedroom duplexes—catering to diverse income brackets.
Dangiwa has emphasized that the Renewed Hope Agenda is not just about building houses but also about driving economic growth and poverty reduction. The construction of these 50,000 units is projected to create 1.25 million direct and indirect jobs, stimulating local economies through the demand for building materials, labor, and related services. “The value chain effect of construction work is significant,” Dangiwa noted during a groundbreaking ceremony in Ebonyi State, highlighting how projects like these boost local businesses, from block suppliers to food vendors at construction sites.
The semi-finished homes initiative dovetails with the Ministry’s cross-subsidy model, where some units are sold at commercial rates to subsidize concessionary prices for low- and medium-income earners. This approach ensures that housing remains accessible to a broader segment of the population, including civil servants and informal sector workers, who can also access loans through the National Housing Fund (NHF) managed by the Federal Mortgage Bank of Nigeria (FMBN).
Transparency and Quality Assurance
The Ministry’s commitment to transparency and quality is evident in its handling of the recovered estate. Before disbursement, the 753 units will undergo rigorous technical assessments, including structural integrity tests, to ensure they meet high standards. “Substandard work will not be tolerated,” Dangiwa warned developers during a recent groundbreaking ceremony in Katsina State, a stance he reiterated during the Abuja inspection. The EFCC, under Olukoyede’s leadership, will monitor the completion and disposal process to ensure accountability, with the Chairman emphasizing the reality of the estate to counter earlier skepticism about its existence.
This focus on quality aligns with Dangiwa’s broader vision for the housing sector. Since assuming office in August 2023, the Minister has prioritized reforms to modernize land administration, enhance urban planning, and promote sustainable building practices. His collaboration with the National Population Commission (NPC) to establish credible data on Nigeria’s housing deficit—estimated to range from 17 to 28 million units—underscores his data-driven approach to policymaking.
Tackling the Housing Deficit: A Multi-Pronged Strategy
Nigeria’s housing crisis is compounded by rapid urbanization, with projections indicating that 70% of the population will live in urban areas by 2050. To address this, Dangiwa is spearheading initiatives like the National Urban Development Policy (NUDP), set for approval by the Federal Executive Council, which aims to transform Nigerian cities into sustainable, resilient 15-minute cities where essential services are accessible within a short distance. The Ministry is also partnering with the World Bank to develop a National Land Digital System (NLDS) to streamline land transactions and boost investor confidence, targeting a rise in formal land transactions from less than 10% to over 50% within a decade.
Additionally, the Ministry is establishing building materials manufacturing hubs across Nigeria’s six geopolitical zones to reduce construction costs, which have been a significant barrier to affordable housing. By offering fiscal incentives like tax reductions and low-interest loans, these hubs aim to boost local production and make building materials more accessible, ultimately lowering the cost of homes for Nigerians.
For more information on how to apply for these housing units, visit the Renewed Hope Portal at www.renewedhope.gov.ng.
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