ABUJA — The Federal Government has reaffirmed its commitment to partnering with credible investors to bridge Nigeria’s housing deficit, with the Ministry of Housing and Urban Development offering suitable land across the Federal Capital Territory, states and local government areas for mass housing development.
Housing Minister, Engr Muttaqha Rabe Darma, made the declaration when a delegation from China Hyway Group Limited visited his office to present a proposal for the development of 10,000 resettlement housing units across Nigeria.
The Chinese delegation, led by its Chief Engineer, Lewis Chima, presented a comprehensive proposal seeking partnership with the Federal Government to deliver large-scale affordable housing nationwide.
Minister Darma commended the company for its innovative approach to housing delivery and expressed appreciation for its interest in investing in Nigeria’s housing sector.
He noted that the proposal aligns with the housing delivery objectives of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, which places priority on expanding access to decent, affordable and sustainable housing for Nigerians through strategic public-private partnerships.
The Minister emphasised that the Ministry remains committed to creating an enabling environment for genuine investors by facilitating access to land and providing the necessary institutional support required for successful project implementation.
“Our mandate is to ensure that more Nigerians have access to affordable and decent housing. We are therefore ready and willing to provide land in Abuja, across the states and in local government areas, subject to due process and the fulfilment of all statutory requirements,” the Minister said.
“This proposal is encouraging because it aligns with the Renewed Hope Housing Programme and our determination to reduce the nation’s housing deficit.”
Chinese Firm Cites 17 Million Housing Deficit
Earlier, Chief Engineer Chima stated that the company was motivated to invest in Nigeria because of the country’s enormous housing demand and strong economic potential.
He said Nigeria, being the sixth most populous country in the world and the most populous nation in Africa, currently faces a housing deficit estimated at approximately 17 million units, making large-scale housing interventions both necessary and urgent.
According to him, the proposed project is designed to complement the Federal Government’s Renewed Hope Housing Programme by providing affordable, durable and rapidly deployable housing solutions across the six geopolitical zones.
“The objective of this project is not merely to construct houses, but to develop sustainable communities through modern industrialised construction technology,” he stated.
“We believe this initiative will make a significant contribution towards closing Nigeria’s housing gap while supporting the Federal Government’s vision of affordable housing for all.”
Advanced Technology to Deliver Units Within 30 Months
The Chief Engineer explained that China Hyway intends to deploy advanced prefabricated construction technology under the Engineering, Procurement, Construction and Financing (EPC+F) model, which integrates project design, financing, construction and delivery into a single framework.
He added that the proposed technology would enable the delivery of the 10,000 housing units within 30 months, while ensuring reduced construction costs, improved quality, faster completion timelines and effective project risk management through international financing support.
He further assured the Ministry of the company’s commitment to establishing a long-term partnership with the Federal Government, noting that its international experience, financial capacity and technical expertise position it as a dependable strategic partner for the successful implementation of the project.
He expressed confidence that the collaboration would contribute significantly to addressing Nigeria’s housing deficit, creating employment opportunities, promoting technology transfer and supporting sustainable urban development.
Ministry Sets Up Review Committee
Following the presentation, the Minister directed the constitution of a committee of relevant directors to undertake a comprehensive review of the proposal that will guide the Ministry’s next line of action.
In a statement signed by Badamasi Haiba, Director of Press and Public Relations, the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Dr Shuaib Belgore, assured the Chinese delegation of the Ministry’s commitment to promoting strategic partnerships that will advance the Renewed Hope Housing Agenda and accelerate the delivery of affordable, quality and sustainable housing to Nigerians across the country.
