FG rollout strategy to avert housing deficit

The Federal Government on Monday rollout a new national housing strategy to tackle the growing housing deficit in the country.

The strategy includes; land reform, urban renewal and public-private partnerships.

The Minister of Housing and Urban Development, Ahmed Dangiwa, said this during the 14th National Council on Lands, Housing and Urban Development meeting, held in Ilorin.

The meeting with the theme, “Achieving Housing Delivery and Sustainable Cities through Effective Land Management, Urban Renewal, Promotion of Local Building Materials, and Public–Private Partnerships in Nigeria,” the Director of Planning, Research and Statistics in the ministry, Alhaji Mukhtar Ilyasu, Dangiwa said became imperative to tackle housing deficit in Nigeria.

He noted that Nigeria’s housing deficit estimated in the tens of millions, remains one of the country’s most pressing socio-economic challenges.

He attributed the housing crisis to rapid urbanisation, population growth, rising construction costs and weak land administration systems.

He said, “The newly introduced policy direction places effective land administration at the centre of housing delivery, while adopting urban renewal as a strategic tool for rebuilding Nigerian cities.

“The new framework positions private sector investment as the main driver of mass housing development across the country,” the minister said.

Dangiwa added that the policy would guide housing delivery, land administration and urban development planning in the coming years, noting that land management remains the foundation for expanding access to affordable housing nationwide.

The minister further disclosed that the Federal Government is prioritising the large-scale adoption of locally sourced building materials as a cost-reduction strategy aimed at making housing more affordable while boosting local industries.

According to him, public-private partnerships will serve as the major engine for housing and urban infrastructure delivery, with government providing policy support, land governance reforms and investment-friendly frameworks to attract private capital.

“The Federal Government is strengthening national land governance frameworks to remove longstanding bottlenecks that have slowed housing development and promote inclusive urban growth,” he said.

Dangiwa also revealed that innovative housing finance and investment models are being introduced to unlock long-term funding for real estate development and bridge the housing gap.