The Federal Government has unveiled plans to deliver 100,000 housing units across the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) under its Renewed Hope Cities and Estates Programme, as it steps up efforts to tackle Nigeria’s housing deficit and improve urban living conditions.
The Minister of Housing and Urban Development, Muttaqa Rabe Darma, disclosed this in Abuja during the combined commemoration of the 2026 World Habitat Day and World Cities Day.
Darma, who was represented by his Chief of Staff, Dr Abba Abdullahi, reaffirmed the government’s commitment to expanding access to affordable housing and building more liveable, inclusive and resilient cities.
The event, held at the Nigerian Society of Engineers Auditorium, formed part of activities marking Urban October 2026.
The minister said addressing Nigeria’s housing challenges required practical and measurable action, alongside improved urban infrastructure and sustainable human settlements.
Describing housing as fundamental to human dignity, family stability, health, productivity and economic development, Darma said adequate housing must be affordable, safe and accessible, with secure tenure and access to transportation, employment, infrastructure and essential social services.
He, however, warned that increasing housing supply alone would not resolve the crisis without making homeownership financially accessible to ordinary Nigerians.
According to him, high interest rates, inadequate long-term funding, stringent eligibility requirements and low mortgage penetration remain major obstacles preventing many Nigerians from owning homes.
To address the challenges, he said the ministry was strengthening the Federal Mortgage Bank of Nigeria, the Nigeria Mortgage Refinance Company and other financial institutions to widen access to housing finance.
He listed National Housing Fund-linked mortgages, rent-to-own arrangements and outright purchase options among the measures being promoted to make homeownership more accessible.
Darma added that housing finance schemes must cater to the needs of civil servants, young professionals, artisans, traders and workers in the informal sector.
240 urban renewal projects delivered
Beyond housing construction, the minister disclosed that the Federal Government had delivered more than 240 urban renewal and slum-upgrading projects nationwide, while over 100 others were at various stages of implementation.
He said projects under the Renewed Hope Cities and Estates Programme were being implemented in Karsana, Abuja, Lagos, Kano and other states.
Darma also cited the groundbreaking of the 250-unit Renewed Hope Civil Service Estate at Dukpa, Gwagwalada, in August 2026 as part of efforts to provide accommodation for federal civil servants.
He stressed that urban renewal must be inclusive and should not result in the unnecessary displacement of residents.
“Existing residents should not be unnecessarily displaced, and communities must participate in identifying their development priorities,” he said.
According to him, urban regeneration projects must incorporate drainage systems, flood management, urban greenery, waste management and energy-conscious designs to improve residents’ quality of life.
The minister also identified the review of the National Building Code, promotion of local building-materials manufacturing hubs and development of a National Housing Data Bank as measures to improve housing delivery.
On private-sector participation, he called for transparent and accountable public-private partnerships that prioritise affordability and ensure that housing remains within the reach of ordinary Nigerians.
He urged state and local governments, financial institutions, private developers, professional bodies, development partners and communities to work with the Federal Government to reduce the housing deficit and improve urban development.
Minister seeks states’ support
Also speaking, the Minister of State for Housing and Urban Development, Yusuf Abdullahi Ata, said Nigeria’s housing challenge extended beyond constructing more buildings to ensuring that citizens had access to affordable, adequate and serviced homes in well-planned communities.
Ata, who was represented by his Special Assistant on International Cooperation and Partnerships, Tpl Edna Deimi Tobi, said the ministry was expanding housing supply and financing through the Renewed Hope Housing Programme and public-private partnerships.
He urged state governments to provide land and supporting infrastructure to facilitate housing development.
The minister of state also emphasised the need for people-centred urban regeneration, with safeguards against the unnecessary displacement of residents.
He commended UN-Habitat for its continued support and called for stronger collaboration among the different levels of government, private-sector operators and communities to achieve adequate housing for all.
Earlier, the Permanent Secretary of the ministry, Dr Shuaib Belgore, described Urban October as a UN-Habitat initiative that provides a platform for examining the challenges and opportunities associated with rapidly changing cities and towns.
Belgore, who was represented by the Director of Urban and Regional Development, Tpl Magaret Adejobi, explained that Urban October begins with World Habitat Day and ends with World Cities Day on October 31.
He said the ministry had combined the two commemorations under the themes, “Adequate Housing for All” for World Habitat Day and “Regenerating the City: Adequate Housing for All” for World Cities Day.
He reaffirmed the ministry’s commitment to policies and programmes that expand access to decent and affordable housing, improve urban infrastructure and promote sustainable human settlements.
Belgore added that tackling the scale of Nigeria’s housing and urban development challenges required effective policies, integrated planning, innovative housing finance and stronger collaboration among government institutions, the private sector, professional bodies, development partners and citizens.
Guterres calls for global action
In a goodwill message, United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres described adequate housing as the foundation of dignity, security and opportunity.
Guterres, who was represented by Niina Ronnie, Head of Office, Technical Adviser and representative of the UN-Habitat Country Office, warned that more than three billion people worldwide were still denied access to adequate housing, which he described as a universal human right.
He called for coordinated action at national and local levels to address the global housing crisis.
The UN chief advocated bold policies, reliable data and reforms to international financing, urging governments to treat housing as a public good and ensure that everyone had a place to call home.
