Nigeria’s Minister of Housing and Urban Development, Muttaqha Darma, has met with Saudi Arabia’s Ambassador to Nigeria, Yousef Bin Muhammad Al-Balawi, in Abuja, to discuss expanding bilateral cooperation in housing and infrastructure.
The move is aimed at attracting investment and addressing Nigeria’s housing shortage.
The courtesy visit focused on strategic partnerships in infrastructure development and investment, as well as preparations for the next Riyadh Real Estate Future Forum (RFF), scheduled to take place in Saudi Arabia in January 2027.
Darma welcomed Saudi Arabia’s interest in supporting Nigeria’s housing sector, describing Nigeria as Africa’s most populous country with substantial housing and infrastructure needs.
He said international partnerships remain vital to achieving the Federal Government’s housing goals under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda.
The minister said discussions also centred on strengthening cooperation in areas of mutual interest and encouraging Saudi developers to invest in Nigeria’s housing market.
“We believe collaboration with countries that have demonstrated excellence in large-scale housing delivery, such as Saudi Arabia, will contribute immensely to making the government’s vision of decent and affordable housing for all Nigerians a reality,” Darma said.
Saudi Ambassador, Yousef Bin Muhammad Al-Balawi, reaffirmed the Kingdom’s readiness to work with Nigeria in addressing its housing needs.
He highlighted Saudi Arabia’s progress in large-scale housing development through its National Housing Company, a government-backed institution responsible for delivering major residential projects across the Kingdom.
According to the Ambassador, Saudi Arabia is prepared to share its technical expertise, industry knowledge and best practices to support Nigeria’s efforts to reduce its housing deficit.
He added that the proposed partnership could also create opportunities for qualified Nigerian professionals and skilled workers to participate in housing and construction projects in Saudi Arabia, promoting employment and knowledge transfer.
Both sides said the discussions reflected a shared commitment to expanding strategic cooperation that supports housing delivery, encourages investment and creates jobs.
The ambassador also reaffirmed Saudi Arabia’s commitment to strengthening diplomatic and economic relations with Nigeria.
He said the Kingdom looked forward to broadening areas of cooperation and welcomed the prospect of a stronger Nigerian diplomatic presence in Saudi Arabia.
