FEDERAL MINISTRY OF HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT
Press Release
Monday, October 19, 2026
Urban October 2026: Housing Minister Pushes for Liveable, Resilient Cities
Reaffirms FG’s Commitment to Adequate Housing for All
Minister of Housing and Urban Development, Engr. Muttaqa Rabe Darma, has stated that practical and measurable action are necessary to deliver adequate housing for Nigerians and to make the nation’s cities safer, more liveable and more resilient.
The Minister spoke at the 2026 combined commemoration of World Habitat Day and World Cities Day celebrated under the urban october activities at the Nigerian Society of Engineering Auditorium, Abuja. He was represented at the occassion by his Chief of Staff Dr Abba Abdullahi.
The theme for World Habitat Day is “Adequate Housing for All” and “Regenerating the City: Adequate Housing for All.” for the World Cities Day
Engr Darma described housing as more than a physical structure, as it is fundamental to human dignity, family stability, health, productivity and economic development.
According to him, an adequate home must be affordable, safe and accessible, with secure tenure and access to infrastructure, transportation, jobs and essential social services.
Minister Darma noted that increasing housing supply must go hand in hand with making homes financially within reach, further identifying high interest rates, limited long-term funding, stringent eligibility requirements and low mortgage penetration as the major barriers to homeownership.
He informed that the Ministry is strengthening the Federal Mortgage Bank of Nigeria, the Nigeria Mortgage Refinance Company and other financial institutions to widen access, through National Housing Fund-linked mortgages, rent-to-own arrangements and outright purchase.
He also added that financing solutions must also respond to the needs of civil servants, young professionals, artisans, traders and informal-sector workers.
On delivery, Darma said that under the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, the Ministry is implementing the Renewed Hope Cities and Estates Programme, which targets 100,000 housing units across the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory.
He cited major projects in Karsana, Abuja, Lagos, Kano and several other states, as well as the groundbreaking of the 250-unit Renewed Hope Civil Service Estate at Dukpa, Gwagwalada, in August 2026.
Accordingly on regeneration, the Minister said the Ministry has delivered over 240 urban renewal and slum-upgrading projects nationwide, with more than 100 others at various stages of implementation.
He stressed that regeneration must be inclusive, “Existing residents should not be unnecessarily displaced, and communities must participate in identifying their development priorities,” he said.
Furthermore, he added that drainage, flood management, urban greenery, waste management and energy-conscious design must be built into regeneration efforts.
The Minister also highlighted the review of the National Building Code, the promotion of local building-materials manufacturing hubs, the development of a National Housing Data Bank, and transparent, accountable Public-Private Partnerships that keep affordability at their core.
Darma called on state and local governments, financial institutions, private developers, professional bodies, development partners and communities to work with the Federal Government to advance adequate housing and regenerate Nigerian cities.
He further reaffirmed the Federal Government’s commitment to building cities where homes are affordable, neighbourhoods are liveable, infrastructure is resilient and opportunities are accessible to all.
On his part, Minister of State for Housing and Urban Development, Rt. Hon. Yusuf Abdullahi Ata, said the challenge is not simply to build more houses, but to ensure Nigerians have access to adequate, affordable and serviced housing in well-planned communities.
Represented by the Special Assistant
(International Cooperation and Partnerships) Tpl Edna Deimi Tobi, Ata said the Ministry is expanding housing supply and finance through the Renewed Hope Housing Programme and Public-Private Partnerships, with States encouraged to provide land and infrastructure.
Minister Ata further stressed that urban regeneration must be people-centred, with safeguards against displacement, and thanked UN-Habitat for its continued support, while calling on all tiers of government, the private sector and communities to work together to deliver adequate housing for all.
Earlier in his welcome address, the Permanent Secretary, Dr. Shuaib Belgore, informed that Urban October is a UN-Habitat initiative that provides a platform for discussing the challenges and opportunities of rapidly changing cities and towns.
Represented by the Director Urban and Regional Development department, Tpl Magaret Adejobi, He explained that It begins with World Habitat Day and ends with World Cities Day on October 31, adding that the Ministry has brought both together under the themes “Adequate Housing for All” and “Regenerating the City: Adequate Housing for All.”
Dr. Belgore said the Ministry remains committed to policies and programmes that expand access to decent and affordable housing, improve urban infrastructure and promote sustainable human settlements.
He also noted that the scale of the challenges calls for shared responsibility and concerted action by all stakeholders, through effective policies, integrated urban planning, innovative housing finance and strong collaboration among the public and private sectors, professional bodies, development partners and citizens.
In his goodwill message, UN Secretary-General António Guterres described adequate housing as the foundation of dignity, security and opportunity, but noted that more than 3 billion people around the world are still denied this universal human right.
Represented by the Head of Office, Technical Adviser and Representative of the World Habitat Country Office for Secretary – General of the United Nations, Niina Ronnie, He called for coordinated action at every level, with bold national and local policies, sound data and reformed international financing, and urged the world to treat housing as a public good so that everyone has a place to call home.
Badamasi Haiba, Fsca, mnipr
Director Press and Public Relations
