Nigeria’s Minister of Housing and Urban Development, Muttaqha Rabe Darma, has handed over keys to beneficiaries of a government-backed affordable housing scheme as authorities seek to expand homeownership and ease mounting housing pressures across the country.
The symbolic handover took place during the commissioning of housing units developed under the Rent-to-Own Scheme, a flagship initiative of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Housing Programme.
The homes were constructed by Brains & Hammers Limited with financing from the Federal Mortgage Bank of Nigeria (FMBN) under a Public-Private Partnership (PPP) arrangement.
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Speaking at the ceremony, Darma reaffirmed the government’s commitment to increasing access to affordable housing, describing homeownership as a central pillar of the administration’s social and economic agenda.
Nigeria, like many rapidly urbanising countries, faces a significant housing deficit, with rising rents in major cities placing increasing pressure on household incomes. Darma said the government was determined to address these challenges by expanding access to decent and affordable housing.
“We are determined to meet the expectations of Nigerians in providing shelter for them. All beneficiaries of this Rent-to-Own Scheme will receive the keys to their homes before the end of the year.’’
The minister noted that high rents in cities such as Abuja and Lagos often leave civil servants and other workers with limited resources to meet essential living expenses, adding that the government’s objective extends beyond housing affordability to improving overall quality of life.
The Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of the Federal Mortgage Bank of Nigeria, Shehu Usman Osidi, acknowledged that the delivery of the housing units encountered initial setbacks.
He explained that the allocation of part of the estate to security agencies had disrupted the assignment of homes to approved subscribers under the Rent-to-Own Scheme.
According to Osidi, the bank established a joint technical committee with Brains & Hammers Limited to resolve the allocation challenges. He credited the intervention of the Minister of Housing and Urban Development with ensuring that all profiled beneficiaries ultimately received homes.
“Every profiled beneficiary ultimately received a home,” Osidi said, describing the resolution of the allocation issues as a significant step towards achieving the programme’s objectives.
The Rent-to-Own Scheme enables eligible Nigerians to acquire homes through structured payment arrangements, reducing the upfront financial barriers that often prevent homeownership. The initiative forms part of the Federal Government’s broader efforts to stimulate housing development, create jobs and strengthen access to mortgage financing.
Speaking on behalf of the beneficiaries, Sanusi Seidu Dantsoho expressed appreciation to the government and all stakeholders involved in the project, describing homeownership as a life-changing opportunity for many families.
He also praised the Federal Mortgage Bank of Nigeria for its role in financing the homes and pledged that residents would work together to maintain a peaceful and well-managed community.
Dantsoho urged the government to expand similar programmes across the country, enabling more Nigerians to realise their dream of owning a home.
