Minister Woos Japanese Investors, Unveils Social Housing Plan

The federal government has reaffirmed its commitment to creating an enabling environment for local and foreign investors as it plans to roll out an ambitious Social Housing Programme in the country’s 774 local government areas to tackle Nigeria’s housing deficit.

The minister of Housing and Urban Development, Engr. Muttaqha Rabe Darma, disclosed this yesterday in Abuja when he received a delegation from Japanese engineering and infrastructure firm, Chodai Company Limited. The meeting was facilitated by the Nigerian Investment Promotion Commission (NIPC).

Darma said the administration remains committed to strategic partnerships with credible investors to accelerate the delivery of affordable housing and critical infrastructure under President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda.

He described public-private partnerships as critical to addressing Nigeria’s housing challenges, stressing that the ministry is open to collaborations that would improve the quality of life of Nigerians through sustainable housing and urban development.

“We are ready for partnership. The ministry is embarking on an ambitious Social Housing Programme that will provide affordable homes for Nigerians across the country. We welcome investors and development partners who share our vision of making decent housing accessible to every Nigerian,” the minister said.

According to him, the programme will be implemented across all 774 local government areas, ensuring that affordable housing reaches communities nationwide, particularly low- and middle-income earners who are unable to own homes.

Darma disclosed that the initiative would also feature a gender-based inclusion component that reserves a percentage of housing units for vulnerable women and children.

“The reality in many developing countries is that women and children are among the most vulnerable members of society. Our Social Housing Programme will deliberately make provisions for them to ensure they have access to safe and decent accommodation,” he said.

The minister added that the programme would also provide housing support for other vulnerable groups, including persons displaced by flooding and victims of insecurity, banditry and insurgency.

He further revealed that the ministry is collaborating with relevant government agencies to strengthen flood mitigation measures and improve urban resilience, particularly in flood-prone communities ahead of future rainy seasons.

Commending Chodai Company Limited for its confidence in Nigeria and commitment to public-private partnership initiatives, Darma urged the Japanese firm to consider extending its ongoing project in Niger State to a local government area close to the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), noting that such a development would create quality housing opportunities for residents and workers within the Abuja metropolitan area.

“The Federal Ministry of Housing and Urban Development remains committed to creating an enabling environment for investors. Strategic partnerships such as the one proposed by CHODAI are essential to delivering sustainable housing, modern infrastructure, economic growth and improved living standards for Nigerians,” he said.

Earlier, leader of the Japanese delegation, Motoko Imai, said Smart City development through Public-Private Partnerships remains one of Chodai Company Limited’s strategic priorities.

She explained that the Tokyo-based engineering and infrastructure consulting firm has successfully delivered major projects across Asia and Africa and is currently implementing development projects in partnership with the Niger State Government.

According to Imai, the company’s proposal to the ministry focuses on collaboration in road construction, housing infrastructure, hydropower generation, renewable energy and other strategic projects aimed at advancing Nigeria’s urban development agenda.

She reaffirmed the company’s commitment to deploying its technical expertise, innovative engineering solutions and global experience to support Nigeria’s housing and infrastructure transformation.