The Jigawa State Government has sanctioned N19.6 billion for the construction of 560 housing units as part of Phase II of its Mass Housing Estates Programme, Commissioner for Information, Youth, Sports and Culture Sagir Musa revealed following the State Executive Council meeting in Dutse.
The homes, consisting of three-bedroom detached and two-bedroom semi-detached units enclosed by perimeter fencing, will be built in Babura, Birnin Kudu, Dutse, Gumel, Hadejia, Kafin Hausa, Kazaure, Maigatari and Ringim local government areas.
This initiative aligns with Governor Umar Namadi’s vision for inclusive development and sustainable urban growth, and is designed to alleviate housing deficits while stimulating local economies through construction-related employment opportunities.
Meanwhile, at the federal level, Minister of Housing and Urban Development Arc. Ahmed Musa Dangiwa has officially requested a budget of N500 billion per annum from the Senate to accelerate the Renewed Hope Estates & Cities programme.
Addressing the Senate Committee on Lands, Housing and Urban Development, chaired by Senator Aminu Tambuwal, Dangiwa highlighted a significant gap between current allocations and the N5.5 trillion estimated annual cost needed to construct 550,000 homes over the next decade. He noted that the ministry received N100 billion in the 2023 supplementary budget and N80 billion in 2024 figures he described as “a far cry from what is needed.
Dangiwa emphasised that housing development should be viewed as a profitable investment rather than “free money,” explaining that the government can recover costs through home sales while also creating jobs and boosting the economy.
His plea for the enhanced allocation was welcomed by Senator Tambuwal and Vice-Chair Victor Umeh, who both signalled strong support though Umeh cautioned that “even that N500 billion may not be able to do so much” in light of inflation and foreign exchange pressures.
The combined push for housing—from Jigawa’s state-driven project to the federal government’s nationwide strategy reflects a growing recognition of Nigeria’s chronic housing challenge and the urgent need for sustained investment across all levels of government.
