The Federal Government is set to launch 10,000 housing units under the Renewed Hope Medic City mass housing initiative, targeted at medical and healthcare workers across the country. This move is part of a broader effort to enhance welfare and sustainability in the healthcare sector.
The announcement was made at a stakeholders’ interactive engagement meeting held in Abuja yesterday, which brought together the Real Estate Developers Association of Nigeria (REDAN) and representatives of professional health associations and unions. The event was organized by the Renewed Hope Housing Initiative for Medical and Healthcare Workers.
In a welcome remarks, Chairman of the initiative, Dr. Aliyu Oroji Wammako, who was represented by Mrs Mercy Iyortyer, the Deputy President of REDAN,said the project is aligned with the Federal Government’s Renewed Hope Housing Agenda—championed by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and driven by the Minister of Housing and Urban Development, Alhaji Ahmed Dangiwa.
He explained that the programme aims to address the alarming trend of medical professionals leaving the country, popularly referred to as the “Japa syndrome.” Wammako warned that Nigeria’s healthcare sector is at a critical crossroads.
“Over the years, we have witnessed an alarming exodus of doctors, nurses, and other healthcare personnel seeking better opportunities abroad. This brain drain continues to weaken our healthcare system and deprive the nation of vital expertise needed to build a healthier and more resilient future,” he said.
He cited poor access to affordable housing, challenging working conditions, and limited professional growth opportunities as major factors driving the mass migration—issues that require urgent intervention.
According to him, the initiative is designed to provide affordable, high-quality housing to healthcare workers nationwide, thereby promoting stability and encouraging them to remain in the country.
“This is not just a housing project; it is a national commitment to honouring those who dedicate their lives to the wellbeing of others,” he added.
Looking ahead, Wammako expressed hope for a Nigeria where doctors, nurses, and other health professionals feel recognised, supported, and empowered through access to affordable housing and conducive living environments.
“This initiative reflects President Tinubu’s vision of Renewed Hope—a vision where every citizen, regardless of profession, has the opportunity to thrive,” he said.
Also speaking, the President and Chairman of REDAN, Prince Akintoye Adeoye, described the initiative as a landmark effort to provide affordable and dignified housing for healthcare professionals nationwide.
“As one of the highest contributors to the National Housing Fund, medical workers deserve priority in housing delivery efforts to help retain talent in the sector and reduce the growing trend of professional migration abroad, popularly called the brain drain or Japa syndrome,” he said.
He emphasized that REDAN is committed to a vision that goes beyond construction.
“We aim to build systems of delivery that are bankable, transparent, and sustainable. From planning to funding, and from delivery to occupancy, each step must reflect a shared sense of purpose and responsibility,” Adeoye said.
On his part, the National Coordinator of the Renewed Hope Housing Initiative for Medical and Healthcare Workers, Dr. Suleiman Abubakar Sadiq, said the initiative would be demand-driven to ensure effective planning and allocation.
“We have a responsibility to monitor and evaluate the implementation to ensure that structural standards are upheld. These houses will be allocated to qualified beneficiaries through a smooth and transparent process,” he stated.
He noted that more than 16,000 doctors have migrated out of Nigeria in the past five years. Quoting recent reports, he said the Minister of Health, Prof. Muhammad Ali Pate, lamented that out of 90,000 doctors registered in Nigeria, only 55,000 are currently practicing in the country.
“Additionally, about 15,000 nurses reportedly left Nigeria in 2023 alone. The Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria has also reported that 5,208 pharmacists have left the country in the last five years in search of greener pastures,” Sadiq added.
He warned that the exodus has caused a brain drain crisis, pushing the healthcare sector toward collapse due to poor wages, inadequate welfare, poor working conditions, lack of infrastructure, and limited job satisfaction.
To address this, Sadiq revealed that the Federal Mortgage Bank of Nigeria (FMBN) will provide the houses to beneficiaries through a rent-to-own scheme at a subsidised mortgage rate of 6% per annum, with repayment spread over up to 30 years.
“This is five times lower than the mortgage rates of up to 30% per annum charged by some commercial institutions,” he said.
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