FG Targets 100,000 Housing Units, Calls for Inclusive Urban Regeneration
By: Prince Folorunsho Adegoke, News Editor at Housing TV Africa
The Federal Government has reaffirmed its target of delivering 100,000 housing units across Nigeria’s 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), alongside efforts to improve housing affordability, expand mortgage access and regenerate existing urban communities.
The Honourable Minister of Housing and Urban Development, Engr. Dr. Muttaqha Rabe Darma, represented by his Chief of Staff, Dr. Abba Abdullah, disclosed this in his keynote address at the combined commemoration of World Habitat Day and World Cities Day 2026 in Abuja.
The event, held at the National Engineering Centre Auditorium on Monday, October 19, brought together government officials, housing finance institutions, town planners and other stakeholders to discuss adequate housing and sustainable urban development under the themes “Adequate Housing for All” and “Regenerating the City: Adequate Housing for All.”
Darma said the Federal Government was implementing reforms to increase housing supply, strengthen housing finance and encourage private-sector investment through the Renewed Hope Cities and Estates Programme.
He identified major projects in Karsana, Abuja, Lagos and Kano, alongside housing estates in other states, as part of the government’s efforts to expand access to homeownership.
The Minister also cited the groundbreaking of the 250-unit Renewed Hope Civil Service Estate at Dukpa, Gwagwalada, in August 2026 as another step towards increasing housing delivery.
He stressed, however, that building more houses would not resolve Nigeria’s housing challenges unless homes were affordable, properly located and supported by essential infrastructure, transportation and social services.
FG reports over 240 urban renewal projects
Addressing urban development, Darma disclosed that the Ministry had reported more than 240 urban renewal and slum-upgrading projects delivered nationwide, with over 100 additional projects at various stages of implementation.
He said urban regeneration should focus on improving existing neighbourhoods, upgrading infrastructure, addressing poor sanitation and strengthening environmental resilience.
The Minister emphasised that regeneration must be inclusive and people-centred, with safeguards to prevent unnecessary displacement of existing residents.
He also highlighted plans to promote local building-materials manufacturing hubs to reduce construction costs, stimulate domestic production and create jobs.
Other priorities include strengthening the National Urban Development Policy, improving physical planning and land administration, modernising the National Building Code and developing a reliable National Housing Data Bank to guide policy and investment decisions.
Darma called for stronger collaboration among federal, state and local governments, financial institutions, developers and professional bodies to translate housing policies into measurable results.
Minister of State backs stronger housing partnerships
The Minister of State for Housing and Urban Development, Rt. Hon. Yusuf Abdullahi Ata, represented by his Senior Special Assistant on Technical Matters, Town Planner Edna Tobi, reaffirmed the Federal Government’s commitment to expanding access to decent and affordable housing.
Ata said Nigeria’s housing challenges were compounded by rising construction costs, limited access to affordable land and finance, informal settlements, inadequate infrastructure and deteriorating urban neighbourhoods.
He stressed that the objective must go beyond constructing housing units to providing safe, secure and adequately serviced homes in well-planned communities.
The Minister of State highlighted public-private partnerships as a major mechanism for mobilising long-term investment, technical expertise and financing for housing delivery.
He also emphasised collaboration with state governments, encouraging arrangements under which states provide land and supporting infrastructure while federal institutions contribute financing, technical assistance and project-delivery support.
Ata further identified the completion of viable ongoing and abandoned housing projects, rehabilitation of existing housing assets and transparent allocation of completed homes as important priorities.
FMBN approves over ₦208bn in housing and mortgage loans
The Managing Director and Chief Executive of the Federal Mortgage Bank of Nigeria (FMBN), Shehu Usman Osidi, disclosed that the Bank financed 6,911 affordable housing units in 2025, achieving 96 per cent of its annual target of 7,200 units.
Osidi said more than ₦208 billion in housing and mortgage loans was approved during the period, while over ₦120 billion was disbursed to support housing construction, mortgage financing, home renovation, cooperative housing and rent-to-own initiatives.
He reaffirmed the Bank’s commitment to expanding access to homeownership through products designed to meet the needs of different categories of Nigerians.
Osidi also announced that the NHF Diaspora Mortgage Loan had been formally launched to enable Nigerians abroad to invest in housing at home.
According to him, implementation of the Bank’s non-interest mortgage product was expected to commence before the end of October 2026.
He also highlighted the planned Rent Assistance Product for federal civil servants, designed to ease rent-payment pressures while providing a pathway towards eventual homeownership.
Osidi said FMBN would continue working with the Ministry and other stakeholders to ensure that access to adequate housing became more inclusive.
Town planners, UN-Habitat call for inclusive urban regeneration
The Nigerian Institute of Town Planners (NITP) and UN-Habitat stressed that addressing Nigeria’s housing challenges requires effective physical planning, better land management and investment in existing communities, alongside new housing construction.
In his goodwill message, the NITP President, Tpl Ogbonna Chime called for stronger coordination among the three tiers of government, professional bodies, the private sector, academia and local communities.
The Institute emphasised that town planners have a strategic role in coordinating land use and integrating housing with transportation, environmental management and essential public services.
Similarly, a lead paper presented by Tpl. Mrs. Morenike Babalola, FNITP, titled “The Pursuit of Adequate Housing and the Critical Role of Urban Regeneration,” advocated inclusive regeneration that improves living conditions without unnecessarily displacing residents or undermining their livelihoods.
The paper identified high land and building-material costs, limited mortgage access, weak institutional coordination, inadequate infrastructure and poor housing data as major barriers to adequate housing.
It recommended stronger social housing programmes, improved access to standardised local building materials, increased investment and better coordination among housing institutions.
UN-Habitat, represented through a message by Niina Rinne, Chief Technical Adviser and Head of its Nigeria Country Office, also emphasised that adequate housing must be safe, affordable and well located, with access to infrastructure, public transport, employment and essential services.
The agency warned that poorly planned housing developments can increase transport costs, strain infrastructure and expose communities to environmental risks.
It called for integrated urban planning and greater investment in upgrading informal settlements through improved drainage, safer streets, public spaces and climate-resilient infrastructure.
Permanent Secretary calls for coordinated action
In his welcome remarks, the Permanent Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Housing and Urban Development, Dr. Shuaib Belgore, said Nigeria’s rapid urbanisation, rising housing demand, construction costs and infrastructure deficits required coordinated action.
He emphasised the importance of effective policies, innovative housing finance, integrated urban planning and stronger collaboration between government institutions and other stakeholders.
Belgore also highlighted the importance of engaging young people in housing and urban development, noting that the decisions taken today would shape the opportunities available to future generations.
The President of the Real Estate Developers Association of Nigeria (REDAN), Oba Akintoye Adeoye; Managing Director/Chief Executive of the Federal Housing Authority (FHA), Hon. Oyetunde Ojo; President of the Nigerian Society of Engineers (NSE), Engr. Ali Alimasuya Rabiu; and Executive Director of the Housing Development Advocacy Network (HDAN), Barr. Festus Adebayo, were among other prominent stakeholders represented at the event who called for stronger collaboration, improved housing finance and practical measures to expand access to adequate and affordable housing in Nigeria.
The combined commemoration reinforced the need to link housing delivery with affordable finance, serviced land, infrastructure development and sustainable urban planning.
Stakeholders called for stronger cooperation across government, the private sector and professional institutions to expand access to adequate housing and build more inclusive, resilient and liveable Nigerian cities.
