Housing Minister: 110m Nigerians Unhoused
Minister of Housing and Urban Development, Muttaqha Darma, says about 110 million Nigerians are currently unhoused, requiring an estimated 16 million housing units to address the deficit. This is as he commended the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) for supporting access to affordable housing for its workers under the Renewed Hope Cities […]
The Minister of Housing and Urban Development, Muttaqha Darma, has stated that approximately 110 million Nigerians are currently without a home, necessitating the construction of around 16 million new housing units to meet the demand. Darma praised the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) for aiding affordable housing access for its employees through the Renewed Hope Cities and Estates Programme.
The initiative was presented to eligible NMDPRA staff as a significant step in addressing Nigeria's substantial housing deficit of over 16 million units needed to house over 100 million currently unhoused Nigerians. Darma emphasized that providing housing for such a large population of Nigerians is a significant task, stressing the importance of collaboration among government institutions in tackling the country's housing crisis.
He highlighted that every opportunity to deliver housing to Nigerians is crucial, as the rising cost of home construction has made home ownership increasingly unattainable for ordinary citizens. The NMDPRA Chief Executive, Mallam Rabiu Umar, shared that 430 staff members in Abuja, Kano, and Lagos received allocation letters for the housing initiative.
Umar described the development as a practical demonstration of how government policies can translate into direct benefits for citizens. The Authority considered staff welfare a vital aspect of institutional performance, and employees with financial stability were better equipped to contribute their skills and expertise to the authority's national objectives.
The Federal Mortgage Bank of Nigeria (FMBN), led by Shehu Osidi, supported the initiative by guaranteeing N100 billion for the Renewed Hope Cities and Estates Programme and providing N19.9 billion in direct funding. Osidi also announced the launch of a Rent-to-Own product for eligible civil servants and a Diaspora Mortgage Loan.
The Authority Staff Cooperative Society's President, Abdullahi Auta, reported that over 1,000 NMDPRA staff applied for the housing initiative, but only 430 were accommodated so far, urging continued support to benefit the remaining applicants. The Renewed Hope SPV Ltd. Chief Commercial Officer, Dare Makinde, detailed the phased rollout of the project in Abuja, Kano, and Lagos, with a second phase planned for other cities.
Makinde called for increased support from public and private organizations to help workers achieve home ownership as rising rents make institutional assistance essential.
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