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From Isaac Anumihe, Abuja
The Federal Government has announced plans to allocate 30 per cent of housing units free of charge to Nigerians who urgently need stable shelter, including internally displaced persons (IDPs) and other vulnerable groups.
Minister of Housing and Urban Development, Ahmed Musa Dangiwa, disclosed this while speaking as a panellist at the 2026 Saudi Real Estate Forum (RFF 2026) in Saudi Arabia.
He explained that the Renewed Hope Social Estates initiative is designed to prioritise citizens with the greatest housing needs, especially people affected by displacement, poverty and insecurity.
According to Dangiwa, the government’s housing strategy recognises that while the private sector plays a vital role in real estate development, public intervention remains necessary in areas where commercial returns are limited but social needs are high.
He said private investors are best positioned to participate in projects that are financially viable, such as Renewed Hope Cities and parts of the Renewed Hope Estates, which offer clearer pathways for profit and sustainable investment. At the same time, he assured potential partners that the government is committed to reducing risks that could discourage investment.
The minister explained that the government is taking responsibility for challenges only the public sector can effectively address, including land readiness, provision of infrastructure, and reforms to approval and delivery processes that help lower costs and speed up project completion.
On how risks will be shared, Dangiwa described the model as straightforward and practical. He said the government will handle risks it can control, such as land acquisition and right-of-way, while private partners will focus on construction, operations and financing.
He stressed that Nigeria’s housing demand is both massive and urgent, noting that projects under the Renewed Hope Cities programme are already underway in Abuja, Kano and Lagos. According to him, these ongoing developments prove that the housing plan is not theoretical but active, market-driven and capable of being expanded nationwide.
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Dangiwa urged investors not to sit back, calling on them to partner with Nigeria in delivering housing at scale.
Nigeria’s message is clear, he said: “Don’t come and watch — come and partner with us to deliver at scale.”
He described Nigeria’s housing market as one of the largest and most promising in Africa, pointing to strong demand and significant opportunities for developers, financiers and global real estate firms.
The minister also explained that the Renewed Hope housing strategy is guided by a strict affordability standard. Under this framework, no household should spend more than one-third of its income on housing, whether through rent or mortgage payments.
He said the programme adopts an income-based approach to ensure that housing prices match what Nigerians can realistically afford, rather than being driven by speculation or luxury demand.
Under the Renewed Hope Housing Programme, the government is rolling out different categories of housing to serve various income groups, including higher-income earners through Renewed Hope Cities, middle-income families through Renewed Hope Estates, and low to no-income Nigerians through Social Housing.
Dangiwa emphasised that affordability must be treated as a real and measurable delivery goal, not just a political slogan. He noted that the housing programme is built around the actual earning power of Nigerians, ensuring that homes are not only built but remain accessible to those who need them most.
He added that government intervention is especially crucial in low-income segments where private developers are unlikely to operate without support, making public-sector leadership essential to closing Nigeria’s housing gap.
