Housing: FG Courts Japanese Investors, Targets Affordable Homes In 774 LGAs

The federal government has stepped up efforts to attract foreign investment into Nigeria’s housing sector, unveiling plans for an expansive Social Housing Programme that will deliver affordable homes across the country’s 774 local government areas.

Minister of Housing and Urban Development, Engr. Muttaqha Rabe Darma, disclosed this on Thursday in Abuja while receiving a delegation from Japanese engineering and infrastructure giant, Chodai Company Limited, during a meeting facilitated by the Nigerian Investment Promotion Commission (NIPC).

Darma said the Tinubu administration was creating a business-friendly environment to encourage private sector participation in housing delivery, stressing that partnerships with reputable international investors remain central to achieving the objectives of the Renewed Hope Agenda.

He noted that the proposed nationwide social housing initiative is designed to bridge Nigeria’s housing deficit by expanding access to affordable homes for low- and middle-income earners in both urban and rural communities.

According to the minister, the programme will be implemented in every local government area, ensuring that housing development is not limited to major cities but reaches underserved communities across the country.

He said the initiative would also prioritise social inclusion by setting aside a percentage of the housing units for vulnerable women and children, describing access to decent shelter as a fundamental component of social protection.

Darma explained that the programme would further cater for internally displaced persons and victims of flooding, banditry and insurgency, noting that the government was integrating disaster response and urban resilience into its housing strategy.

He added that the ministry was working with relevant agencies to strengthen flood mitigation measures and promote sustainable urban planning in communities prone to recurring floods.

Reaffirming the government’s commitment to investors, the minister said strategic collaborations with international firms would not only accelerate housing delivery but also stimulate economic growth, create jobs and improve infrastructure nationwide.

As part of efforts to deepen the partnership, Darma encouraged Chodai Company Limited to expand its ongoing development project in Niger State to a local government area bordering the Federal Capital Territory, saying such an investment would boost housing supply for residents and workers within the Abuja metropolitan corridor.

Earlier, leader of the Japanese delegation, Motoko Imai, said Chodai Company Limited views Smart City development through Public-Private Partnerships as a major area of focus.

She explained that the Tokyo-based engineering and infrastructure consulting firm has executed large-scale projects across Asia and Africa and is currently partnering with the Niger State Government on infrastructure development.

Imai said the company is seeking collaboration with the Federal Ministry of Housing and Urban Development in key areas including housing infrastructure, road construction, hydropower development, renewable energy and other projects capable of driving Nigeria’s urban transformation.

She reaffirmed the firm’s readiness to deploy its global expertise, innovative engineering solutions and technical capacity to support the Federal Government’s drive to expand access to quality housing and modern infrastructure across the country.