The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, says the administration is prioritising affordable housing to help young Nigerians and low-income earners become homeowners in Abuja.
Wike made this known during the commissioning of housing units at Abuja Property Development Company (APDC) Homes in Karasana District, Abuja.
Represented by the Group Managing Director of Abuja Investment Company, Maureen Tamuno, the minister said the initiative aimed to address the housing needs of residents across different income groups.
He said President Bola Tinubu’s administration was paying particular attention to young people and others who might struggle to secure decent accommodation in the nation’s capital.
“President Bola Tinubu has decided to take care of different cadres of people, especially the young persons,” he said.
Wike said government-owned agencies, including APDC and Abuja Investment Company, should identify residents’ housing needs and develop projects that respond to them.
He also directed APDC to explore opportunities to provide more affordable homes, noting that access to accommodation remained a major challenge for Abuja residents.
“Once you have accommodation, especially in a city like Abuja, you have solved one of the major problems facing residents,” he said.
APDC Offers Different Housing Options
The acting Managing Director of APDC, Akeem Aderogba, said the company was committed to providing affordable homes for low- and middle-income earners.
He explained that the company’s housing portfolio included studio apartments, one-bedroom units and two-bedroom flats to accommodate households with different needs and financial capacities.
According to him, the range of housing options would allow residents to choose homes that suit their circumstances as their needs change.
Aderogba urged young Nigerians and civil servants to explore available mortgage schemes, explaining that eligible applicants could make an initial deposit of about 10 per cent and finance the balance through approved housing institutions.
He identified the National Housing Fund, Federal Government Staff Housing Loans Board and other mortgage schemes as potential financing options for eligible applicants.
The APDC chief added that younger workers could benefit from longer loan repayment periods. He encouraged civil servants to explore homeownership opportunities before retirement.
Developer Calls For Better Access To Land, Mortgage Finance
A private developer, Alhaji Bashir Jimoh, said addressing Nigeria’s housing deficit required more than constructing residential units.
He called for improved access to land titles, mortgage financing and essential infrastructure to make homeownership more accessible.
Jimoh noted that inadequate land documentation could prevent Nigerians from accessing housing finance, creating additional barriers for prospective homeowners.
He also urged the government to provide access roads and other essential infrastructure linking housing estates to existing communities.
According to him, better infrastructure would improve access to new residential developments and make them more viable for residents.
The housing initiative highlights the importance of affordable property options, accessible mortgage financing and secure land documentation in expanding homeownership opportunities for young Nigerians and low- and middle-income earners in Abuja.
