The Federal Government says it is ready to partner with credible investors to address Nigeria’s housing deficit by providing suitable land for mass housing development across the country.
Minister of Housing and Urban Development, Engr. Muttaqha Rabe Darma, stated this when a delegation from China Hyway Group Limited visited the ministry to present a proposal for the construction of 10,000 resettlement housing units in Nigeria.
The delegation, led by the company’s Chief Engineer, Lewis Chima, outlined a comprehensive proposal seeking collaboration with the Federal Government to deliver large-scale affordable housing nationwide.
Engr. Darma commended the company for its interest in Nigeria’s housing sector, describing the proposal as consistent with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, which prioritises access to affordable, decent and sustainable housing through strategic public-private partnerships.
He assured the investors of the ministry’s commitment to creating an enabling environment by facilitating access to land in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), states and local government areas, subject to due process and statutory requirements.
“Our mandate is to ensure that more Nigerians have access to affordable and decent housing. We are therefore ready to provide land in Abuja, across the states and in local government areas, in line with all legal requirements. This proposal aligns with the Renewed Hope Housing Programme and our determination to reduce the nation’s housing deficit,” the minister said.
Earlier, Chief Engineer of China Hyway Group Limited, Lewis Chima, said the company was attracted by Nigeria’s enormous housing demand and economic potential.
He noted that Nigeria, the most populous country in Africa, faces an estimated housing deficit of about 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 country’s six geopolitical zones.
“The objective of this project is not merely to construct houses, but to develop sustainable communities through modern industrialised construction technology. 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,” he said.
Chima explained that the company plans 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 completion of the 10,000 housing units within 30 months while reducing construction costs, improving quality, accelerating delivery timelines and ensuring effective project risk management through international financing support.
He also reaffirmed the company’s commitment to establishing a long-term partnership with the Federal Government, expressing confidence that the project would help reduce Nigeria’s housing deficit, create jobs, facilitate technology transfer and promote sustainable urban development.
Following the presentation, the Minister directed the constitution of a committee comprising relevant directors in the ministry to undertake a comprehensive review of the proposal and recommend the next course of action.
Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Dr. Shuaib Belgore, assured the delegation of the ministry’s commitment to fostering strategic partnerships that would advance the Renewed Hope Housing Agenda and accelerate the delivery of affordable, quality and sustainable housing for Nigerians.