Federal Govt Targets 20,000 Homes Yearly As Germany Backs Nigeria’s Housing Drive

The federal government has disclosed plans to deliver 20,000 housing units annually, with about 15,000 homes already at various stages of completion nationwide, as it deepens partnership with the German Agency for International Development (GIZ) to accelerate affordable housing and urban renewal across the country.

The minister of Housing and Urban Development, Muttaqha Rabe Darma, made the disclosure on Friday in Abuja during a meeting with a German delegation led by the Head of Cooperation at the Embassy of the Federal Republic of Germany, Dr Karin Jansen.

The meeting reaffirmed both countries’ commitment to strengthening collaboration on affordable housing, sustainable urban development, climate-resilient infrastructure and inclusive communities under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda.

Darma said the federal government remained committed to addressing Nigeria’s huge housing deficit through strategic partnerships, noting that affordable housing was central to improving citizens’ welfare and stimulating economic growth.

“We need to partner with GIZ to actualise our mandate. We are committed to delivering on the Renewed Hope Agenda, and we believe this partnership will strengthen our capacity to provide affordable housing, promote sustainable urban development and improve the quality of life of Nigerians,” the minister said.

He acknowledged that although estimates of Nigeria’s housing deficit vary, the demand for decent and affordable homes remains enormous, with millions of Nigerians still lacking adequate shelter.

According to him, the ministry is also finalising a Social Housing Scheme that will extend affordable housing opportunities to all 774 local government areas, targeting low-income and vulnerable groups, including teachers, primary healthcare workers, persons with disabilities, young families and Nigerians in the diaspora seeking affordable homes.

In another major intervention, Darma revealed that the federal government would commence the transformation of at least three major urban slums before the end of 2026 as part of a broader urban regeneration programme aimed at creating safer, more resilient and economically vibrant cities.

“The future of our cities depends on deliberate planning, sustainable infrastructure and inclusive development. Beyond constructing houses, we are building communities where people can live with dignity, access essential services and enjoy a better quality of life,” he said.

Speaking during the meeting, Dr Jansen described the engagement as timely, coming shortly after the recent Germany-Nigeria Government Negotiations on Development Cooperation, where both countries agreed to deepen collaboration in key sectors.

She said Germany was prepared to expand cooperation with Nigeria in sustainable urban development, integrated planning, resilient infrastructure, energy-efficient buildings and climate-smart cities.

“We see strong linkages between our development priorities and the mandate of the ministry. Germany has developed valuable expertise in sustainable urban development and resilient infrastructure, and we believe there is significant potential to jointly deliver solutions that will improve the lives of Nigerians,” she said.

Earlier, the permanent secretary of the ministry, Dr Shuaib Belgore, said stronger collaboration between Nigeria and GIZ would help tackle the country’s housing challenges while promoting inclusive, climate-smart urban development.

He expressed confidence that the renewed partnership would strengthen urban governance, bridge the housing gap and support the federal government’s efforts to expand access to decent and affordable housing.

The meeting ended with both sides committing to deepen cooperation through technical assistance, knowledge sharing, institutional capacity building and innovative solutions aimed at accelerating the implementation of Nigeria’s housing and urban development agenda.