The Minister of Housing and Urban Development, Arc Ahmed Musa Dangiwa, has pledged full support for the proposed FCT NUJ Journalists’ Village in Abuja, describing the initiative as timely and vital. The housing scheme is an initiative of the Nigerian Union of Journalists (NUJ), FCT Council, aimed at providing decent and affordable homes for journalists.
Receiving a delegation from the NUJ FCT Council led by Chairmam Ms Grace Ike, the Minister commended journalists for their critical role in promoting accountability and public enlightenment. He assured the Union that journalists would not be excluded from the Federal Government’s housing agenda under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Programme.
“You are key partners in governance,” Dangiwa noted. “Your voices matter, your stories shape the nation, and we deeply value the role you play in keeping citizens informed and leaders accountable.”
The Minister stated that once the NUJ secures a titled plot of land and provides an approved building design, the Federal Mortgage Bank of Nigeria (FMBN) will be mandated to support the construction of the Journalists’ Village under its cooperative housing scheme. Beneficiaries will have the option to pay over a 30-year period through a low-interest mortgage plan.
This initiative aligns with the Tinubu administration’s Renewed Hope Housing Programme, which aims to bridge Nigeria’s housing deficit, create jobs, and uplift living standards. The programme includes:
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Renewed Hope Cities: Large developments of at least 1,000 homes in major cities including the FCT
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Renewed Hope Estates: 250-unit housing estates across all state capitals for middle-income earners
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Social Housing Scheme: 100 homes in each of Nigeria’s 774 local government areas, targeting low-income earners and vulnerable populations
Dangiwa disclosed that over 10,000 housing units are already underway in 14 states and the FCT, while more than 150 slum upgrade projects have been completed. These include roadworks, solar lighting, clean water supply, and proper drainage systems.
He encouraged journalists and the general public to take advantage of the new digital housing application platform at www.renewedhopehomes.fmhud.gov.ng, which allows users to apply for homes, calculate mortgage options, and monitor application progress.
The Minister also announced partnerships with international housing financiers, including Shelter Afrique Development Bank, to deliver 5,000 more affordable homes, along with plans to establish local building material hubs to reduce construction costs.
“Our mission is simple – every Nigerian deserves a decent place to call home,” Dangiwa affirmed.
In her remarks, NUJ FCT Chairman, Ms Grace Ike, expressed appreciation to the Minister and President Tinubu for their commitment to delivering 50,000 new homes in the first phase. She acknowledged achievements such as the ongoing construction of 10,000 homes, improved mortgage systems, and the Minister’s international efforts, especially the Diaspora Mortgage Scheme and housing inclusion for persons with disabilities.
“Access to housing is not just a basic need, it is a matter of dignity and security,” she said. “As defenders of democracy and national development, journalists deserve inclusion in housing plans.”
Ms Ike appealed for the Ministry’s support in realising the Journalists’ Village project in Abuja. She also called for assistance in completing the NUJ Pentagon building, the construction of a 2,000-capacity events hall, and greater access to housing finance and policy training for journalists.
She concluded with a strong pledge of the NUJ’s cooperation with the Ministry, noting that journalists are not only chroniclers of national progress but are also vital collaborators in development.
She also commended housing advocate and CEO of TV Housing Show, Bar Festus Adebayo, for his unwavering support for affordable housing for journalists in the FCT.