FG Hands Over Homes To Beneficiaries, Targets Wider Access To Affordable Housing

The federal government on Tuesday intensified its affordable housing drive as it handed over completed housing units to beneficiaries under its Rent-to-Own Scheme in Abuja, reaffirming its commitment to expanding homeownership opportunities for Nigerians.

The houses, located at Bungalow City along the Dei-Dei–Zuba Expressway, were officially delivered to subscribers during a commissioning ceremony presided over by the minister of Housing and Urban Development, Muttaqha Rabe Darma.

The housing project was developed by Brains & Hammers Limited and financed by the Federal Mortgage Bank of Nigeria (FMBN) under a Public-Private Partnership (PPP) arrangement as part of the federal government’s Renewed Hope Housing Programme.

Speaking at the event, Darma said the administration of President Bola Tinubu remains determined to bridge Nigeria’s housing deficit by making homeownership more accessible and affordable, particularly for low- and middle-income earners.

According to him, the government is committed to reducing the burden of rising rents, especially in major urban centres such as Abuja and Lagos, where accommodation costs continue to place significant pressure on household incomes.

He said affordable housing remains a critical component of the administration’s social and economic agenda, stressing that efforts are underway to ensure more Nigerians have access to decent shelter.

“We are determined to meet the expectations of Nigerians in providing shelter for them. All beneficiaries of this Rent-to-Own Scheme will receive the keys to their homes before the end of the year,” the minister stated.

Darma noted that the delivery of the houses demonstrates the government’s resolve to translate policy commitments into tangible benefits for citizens, adding that more housing projects are being pursued across the country through strategic partnerships.

Also speaking, managing director and chief executive officer of the Federal Mortgage Bank of Nigeria, Shehu Usman Osidi, disclosed that the allocation process for the housing units initially faced setbacks following the designation of part of the estate to security agencies.

Osidi explained that the bank, in collaboration with the developers, established a joint technical committee to resolve the challenges and ensure that all qualified subscribers under the Rent-to-Own Scheme were accommodated.

He credited the intervention of the minister of Housing and Urban Development for helping to resolve the issues and ensuring the successful delivery of the houses to beneficiaries.

The FMBN boss reaffirmed the bank’s commitment to supporting affordable housing initiatives and advancing the Renewed Hope agenda through increased access to mortgage financing.

On behalf of the beneficiaries,  Sanusi Seidu Dantsoho, commended the federal government for creating a pathway to homeownership for ordinary Nigerians.

He described the scheme as a life-changing opportunity for many families and urged the government to sustain and expand similar housing interventions nationwide.

Dantsoho also praised FMBN for its role in financing the project and pledged that residents would work together to maintain a peaceful and well-managed community.

The Rent-to-Own Scheme allows eligible Nigerians to acquire homes through flexible payment arrangements, providing an alternative route to homeownership for citizens who may be unable to raise large upfront payments.