Ahmed Dangiwa, minister of housing and urban development, says the federal government sold the 3,500 houses built under the national housing programme implemented during former President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration.
Dangiwa, who was quoted in the 50th edition of The Explainer, a weekly publication by the National Orientation Agency (NOA), did not provide reasons for the sale or the amount realised from it.
He said President Bola Tinubu’s administration has delivered more homes in two years than what was achieved under the previous government in eight years.
The minister said the national housing programme under the past administration delivered 3,500 units in eight years, while the current government is constructing over 10,000 housing units across 14 states and the federal capital territory (FCT).
Advertisement
He said the housing programme — “the flagship shelter initiative of Tinubu’s government” — is “a bold, people-centred” intervention designed to reduce Nigeria’s housing deficit, currently estimated at over 17 million units.
“This is the first time that any government in Nigeria is implementing a national housing strategy that is truly comprehensive, spatially balanced and socially inclusive,” Dangiwa said.
“Beyond delivering homes, the Renewed Hope Housing Programme is about restoring dignity, reducing poverty, creating jobs, stimulating local economies and ensuring no Nigerian is left behind. It is also about promoting home ownership as a pathway to wealth creation and social mobility.
Advertisement
“The programme is underpinned by innovative off-take solutions, including single-digit interest rate mortgages, rent-to-own schemes with no down payment and a digital housing portal to ensure transparency and equal access.
“It is being implemented through strategic public-private partnerships, ensuring efficiency, sustainability and greater scale.
“The administration of President Tinubu is currently constructing over 10,000 housing units across 14 states of the federation and the FCT.
“The administration has, as a matter of fact, delivered more housing units in this short period than what was achieved in the previous eight years combined under similar government initiatives.
Advertisement
“The last administration under the National Housing Programme over eight years completed about 3,500 units only that we had to even sell when we came onboard.”
He said constructing over 10,000 housing units within just two years of this federal government “is unprecedented in recent history.”
The publication said the programme has been categorised into three components to accommodate every level of Nigerians in need of homes.
These include the renewed hope cities, the renewed hope estates, and the renewed hope social housing estates.
Advertisement
While the renewed hope cities is a large-scale urban housing projects of 1,000 units each, designed for high-income earners and diaspora investors, the renewed hope estates is a mid-sized estates of 250 units per location in each of the 36 states and the FCT, aimed at middle-income earners including civil servants, teachers, traders, and artisans.
“The third component of the housing project of the federal government is the Renewed Hope Social Housing Estates. This housing scheme has been described as the most ambitious and socially impactful component of the renewed hope housing projects,” the NOA report said.
Advertisement
Dangiwa said this category targets the poorest and most vulnerable groups in the society, including the low-income earners, no-income, homeless individuals and persons with disabilities.
He added that the objective is to construct 100 housing units in each of the 774 local government areas of the country and bring affordable homes to the grassroots, particularly those who need them most.
Advertisement
The minister said work is progressing at various project sites such as Karsana, Abuja — a 3,112-unit smart city, with 1,000 units completed; Ibeju-Lekki, Lagos— a 2,000-unit development, located near the Dangote Refinery and Lekki Deep Sea Port, currently at carcass level; and Kano — a 1,500-unit estate, with an additional 500-unit project to meet rising demand — also at carcass level.
In addition, 250-unit renewed hope estates are being constructed in 12 states, including Osun, Delta, Akwa Ibom, Abia, Sokoto, Gombe, Yobe, Oyo, Benue, Ebonyi, Katsina, and Nasarawa.
Advertisement
Dangiwa said a blend of private sector financing, budgetary allocations, and cooperation from state governors on land access has helped to fast-track implementation.
He said the ministry has created a digital housing portal — www. renewedhopehomes.fmhud.gov.ng — to ensure that target beneficiaries secure unhindered access to the projects.
The minister said the move would eliminate middlemen, promote transparency and ensure that Nigerians from all walks of life can seamlessly apply for homes of their choice without any difficulty.
‘ONGOING CONSTRUCTION WORK HAS GENERATED 250,000 JOBS’
He disclosed that the ongoing construction work has generated over 250,000 jobs for artisans: bricklayers, carpenters, plumbers, tilers, and suppliers.
“We’re not just building houses – we’re building hope, stimulating local economies, empowering communities and setting a new standard for government-led housing delivery in Nigeria,” Dangiwa said.
“The Renewed Hope Housing Programme has become a symbol of what is possible when vision meets execution.”
The NOA report said the housing programme would alter the status quo in the lives of thousands of Nigerians.
