The Federal Government has said it will unveil a new strategic housing roadmap before the end of May as part of efforts to expand home ownership and increase housing delivery across the country through Public-Private Partnerships (PPPs).
The Minister of Housing and Urban Development, Muttaqha Darma, disclosed this on Tuesday during the second edition of the Renewed Hope Housing Public-Private Partnership Summit held in Abuja.
According to the minister, the new roadmap is expected to provide clear direction for housing development in Nigeria and strengthen collaboration between the government, private investors, financial institutions, and state governments.
He explained that the plan was designed to support President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, which places strong highlights on infrastructure development, job creation, and improving the living conditions of Nigerians.
Darma said the summit would help shape the ministry’s long-term strategy for solving Nigeria’s housing challenges and boosting economic growth through construction and urban development.
“Whatever plan we come up with, we will pursue diligently to ensure that it delivers meaningful results for Nigerians,” the minister said.
Nigeria has continued to battle a major housing deficit for several years. Experts estimate that the country faces a shortage of millions of housing units, especially in urban areas where population growth and migration have increased pressure on available accommodation.
The rising cost of building materials, inflation, high rent, and limited access to affordable mortgages have also made home ownership difficult for many Nigerians. In major cities such as Lagos, Abuja, Port Harcourt, and Kano, rent prices have risen sharply in recent years, pushing many low- and middle-income earners out of decent housing.
Successive governments have introduced housing programs to address the problem, but many projects have either been abandoned, delayed, or failed to meet expected targets due to funding challenges and poor implementation.
The Federal Government now says it wants to adopt a more sustainable approach by working closely with private investors and developers through PPP arrangements.
Public-Private Partnerships allow the government and private companies to jointly fund and execute projects, reducing pressure on public finances while encouraging investment and efficiency.
Darma said ongoing housing projects in Ibeju-Lekki in Lagos State, Lambu in Kano State, and Karsana in Abuja would be commissioned by President Tinubu once completed.
He noted that the government planned to scale up housing delivery nationwide using strong PPP models, innovative financing systems, and wider participation from stakeholders.
According to him, the projects are expected to provide thousands of Nigerians with affordable homes and improve access to decent shelter across different parts of the country.
“This would ensure that thousands of Nigerians would soon become homeowners, with roofs over their heads as these housing projects continue to expand nationwide,” he stated.
The minister added that the housing projects were already contributing to economic growth by creating jobs for artisans, engineers, contractors, suppliers, and other professionals in the construction industry.
He explained that increased building activities around the projects were also helping local businesses and stimulating economic activities in host communities.
Construction has remained one of the key sectors with the potential to create large-scale employment in Nigeria. Industry experts say investments in housing can also boost manufacturing, cement production, transportation, and other sectors connected to building and infrastructure development.
As part of efforts to improve the welfare of security personnel, Darma disclosed that the ministry, in partnership with the Renewed Hope Infrastructure Development Fund, was currently delivering 1,550 housing units for military personnel.
He said the initiative was aimed at improving the living conditions of members of the Armed Forces and supporting their welfare.
The minister, however, admitted that despite progress made so far, there was still a need for stricter supervision and timely completion of projects.
“We remain fully committed to the timely completion and commissioning of all ongoing Renewed Hope Housing Projects across the country,” he assured.
Darma also called on banks and financial institutions to create housing finance products that are easier and more affordable for Nigerians to access.
Many Nigerians have complained about the difficulty of obtaining mortgage loans due to high interest rates, strict conditions, and low-income levels.
Mortgage financing in Nigeria remains underdeveloped compared to many other countries, making it difficult for workers and young families to own homes.
The minister urged state governments to support housing delivery by providing land and creating enabling environments that would attract investors and speed up development.
Land ownership and documentation challenges have remained major obstacles to housing development in Nigeria, especially because obtaining land titles and approvals can take several years in some states.
Darma further revealed that the ministry would begin nationwide inspections next week to verify the availability and readiness of completed housing units.
According to him, the government had been informed that more than 15,000 housing units were already available across the country and could soon be occupied by Nigerians.
However, he stressed that the ministry would physically inspect the projects to ensure the houses truly exist and are ready for habitation.
“I’ve been made to understand that more than 15,000 units of houses are now available to Nigerians. Now, in the next three months, if what I’ve been told is true, I assure Nigerians that 15,000 houses or more than 15,000 houses will be available for occupation by Nigerian families,” he stated.
The minister explained that based on an average family size of four persons, the houses could provide shelter for more than 60,000 Nigerians who currently do not have decent accommodation.
“And that means over 60,000 unhoused members of families, unhoused individuals, taking an average of four people per family, father, mother, and two children, will be housed in the next three months,” he added.
He said the government would not rely only on official reports or paperwork but would personally inspect project sites across different locations.
“We will move by next week, and we’ll begin to assess the availability of these 15,000 houses. I’ll move from place to place and make sure that these 15,000 houses are there and not just on paper,” Darma said.
The minister’s comments come at a time when many Nigerians are facing severe economic hardship, rising living costs, and growing accommodation problems in urban centres.
For many citizens struggling with high rent and poor living conditions, the promise of affordable housing remains one of the most important expectations from the current administration.