The Federal Ministry of Housing and Urban Development has announced a strategic partnership with the Association of Housing Corporations of Nigeria (AHCN) to accelerate the delivery of affordable housing under the Renewed Hope Housing Programme.
This collaboration was officially established during a courtesy visit to the ministry by AHCN President and Chairman of Council, Eno Obongha, and his delegation.
Salisu Haiba, the ministry’s Director of Information and Public Relations, revealed the details of this partnership in a statement released on Saturday.
The initiative aims to tackle homelessness and ensure that all Nigerians have access to decent, affordable housing within safe and secure environments.
Minister of Housing and Urban Development, Ahmed Dangiwa, underscored the significance of the Renewed Hope Housing Programme, stating, “This initiative was created to significantly increase the availability of affordable housing in Nigeria.”
He reassured his visitors that the ministry is fully committed to completing all housing projects under this program, with a firm commitment against leaving any projects unfinished.
“There will be no abandoned houses under this programme,” Dangiwa emphasized.
He also stressed the importance of utilizing high-quality, locally sourced building materials in the construction of these homes.
“While our primary goal is to provide affordable and accessible housing for all Nigerians, we will not compromise on quality. We are committed to using top-grade building materials to deliver homes that meet the expectations of Nigerians, while simultaneously supporting our local economy,” he stated.
Dangiwa expressed his enthusiasm for the Agric-Villages Scheme, an innovative initiative by the AHCN designed to leverage agriculture as a catalyst for housing development. This scheme, which focuses on acquiring farmland in rural areas across all states, aims to create job opportunities for unemployed youth while addressing housing needs.
“The Agric-Villages Scheme will be integrated into the National Social Housing Fund initiative, which the Ministry is actively working to implement,” the minister said, highlighting its potential to provide affordable housing for low- and no-income Nigerians.
Earlier, AHCN President Eno Obongha expressed the association’s eagerness to contribute to the Renewed Hope Housing Agenda.
“We are dedicated to supporting this initiative by offering approximately 15 hectares of land in each senatorial district for housing development, in alignment with President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda,” Obongha stated.
The association also sought the minister’s assistance in facilitating access to Housing Development Funds through mortgages for State Housing Corporations. Additionally, they requested to be included in the execution of housing projects under the Renewed Hope Housing Programme.
Furthermore, Obongha proposed that at least 20 per cent of the building materials used in these projects be sourced locally to promote economic growth and sustainability.
