FG Targets Cheaper Housing As Dangiwa Opens Talks With Sinoma

The federal government has intensified efforts to tackle Nigeria’s housing deficit, opening talks with Sinoma New Materials Nigeria Company Limited to deploy innovative technologies aimed at delivering affordable homes at scale.

Minister of Housing and Urban Development, Ahmed Musa Dangiwa, disclosed this in Abuja on Wednesday during a high-level meeting with the global building materials firm, stressing that the partnership aligns with government’s drive to make home ownership attainable for low- and middle-income Nigerians.

Dangiwa said the government is prioritising modern construction methods that can drastically reduce costs and delivery timelines, noting that conventional building approaches have failed to meet the growing demand for affordable housing across the country.

“We want a situation where the average Nigerian worker can achieve home ownership within their working lifetime,” the minister said, adding that only proven and scalable technologies would be adopted.

He emphasised the need for practical demonstrations of proposed innovations, insisting that durability, cost-effectiveness and large-scale feasibility must be clearly established before adoption.

The minister also highlighted the urgency of speed in construction, describing it as a critical factor in bridging Nigeria’s housing gap. According to him, the ability to deliver mass housing projects within short timelines would significantly boost supply and accessibility.

Earlier, chairman of Sinoma New Materials Nigeria Company Ltd, Eric, commended the federal government’s housing reforms, particularly the Renewed Hope Housing Programme, noting that the company’s solutions are designed to support affordable, sustainable and large-scale housing delivery.

He described housing as not just a social need but a major economic driver capable of creating jobs, strengthening local industries and stimulating national growth.

Eric introduced the company’s SinoBoard Fibre Cement Technology, a prefabricated building solution that enables faster construction through dry systems, while offering resistance to fire, moisture, termites and harsh weather conditions.

He said the technology reduces long-term maintenance costs and supports environmentally friendly construction, making it suitable for Nigeria’s green housing ambitions.

The company also signalled its readiness to invest in local manufacturing, including the establishment of production facilities, technology transfer and job creation, in line with the government’s industrialisation agenda.

Dangiwa, in response, reiterated plans to establish building materials manufacturing hubs nationwide, which would serve as centres for producing innovative construction inputs to lower costs and accelerate housing development.

He further outlined the government’s Public-Private Partnership model, under which the government provides land while private developers supply financing, technology and expertise. He noted that the Federal Mortgage Bank of Nigeria would off-take completed houses and recover costs through mortgage schemes.

The minister directed relevant officials in the ministry to sustain engagement with Sinoma to refine its proposal and ensure alignment with national housing priorities, signalling a potential breakthrough in Nigeria’s quest for affordable mass housing.