The Federal Government has unveiled a groundbreaking initiative as part of the Renewed Hope Agenda, aimed at delivering 77,400 social housing units across Nigeria and establishing new Renewed Hope Cities in Lagos, Abuja, and Kano. This initiative is a strategic response to the country’s pressing housing deficit.
The announcement was made by the Minister of State for Housing and Urban Development, Yusuf Ata, in a recent statement.
Highlighting the ministry’s mission and the significance of external partnerships, Ata remarked, “The primary mandate of the ministry is to provide mass housing for Nigerians, and we welcome potential collaboration with Ms Allen Le and Partners International Investment Consulting Joint Company in achieving this goal.” He reaffirmed the Federal Government’s dedication to addressing housing challenges through substantial investments and strategic collaborations.
“Under the Renewed Hope Agenda, we are constructing 3,000 housing units each in Lagos, Abuja, and Kano for Renewed Hope Cities and 250 housing units in each of the 36 states for the Estates,” he stated.
In detailing the scope of the ministry’s social housing initiatives, Ata announced a nationwide rollout: “Additionally, the social housing initiative will deliver 77,400 housing units, 100 in each of the 774 local government areas,” he said.
In related news, the government is also set to sell 753 housing units recovered from Emefiele and plans to construct 10,000 housing units specifically for healthcare workers.
Emphasizing the need for clarity in partnerships, the minister said, “We need to know specifically how we will partner with you. Make a formal proposal to the ministry indicating where you want to collaborate with us. We look forward to seeing clearly the areas where you want us to come in.”
Ata highlighted that a significant portion of the new homes will be allocated to vulnerable Nigerians: “30 per cent of the 77,400 social housing units will be given to the non-income Nigerians,” he noted, commending “President Tinubu for maintaining his stand on 30 per cent even when 20 per cent was proposed to him.”
The visiting delegation, led by Allen Ke Nam of SV-NED Incorporated, expressed strong interest in investing in the housing sector, particularly in affordable housing construction. Nam requested land from the government to facilitate their investment, emphasizing the socioeconomic advantages of the partnership. “The collaboration will lead to job creation and skilled acquisition as new construction methods will be introduced in the course of construction,” he said.
The Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Shuaib Belgore, welcomed the initiative and expressed optimism regarding potential collaborations, assuring the delegation of the Ministry’s full support.