Dangiwa Urges Innovation In Affordanle Mortgage Finance, Charges FMBN To Scale Impact.   The Honourable Minister of Housing and Urban Development, Arc. Ahmed Musa Dangiwa, has called for bold, innovative solutions to tackle the affordability challenge in Nigeria’s housing market, emphasizing that millions of Nigerians still cannot access homeownership despite existing concessional mortgage products.   Speaking at the Federal Mortgage Bank of Nigeria (FMBN) Day during the 19th Africa International Housing Show in Abuja, the Minister described affordability as the biggest barrier to homeownership, even in cases where housing units are available.    He noted that while FMBN provides single-digit interest rate mortgages at 6% per annum, with tenors of up to 30 years and flexible repayment structures under the National Housing Fund (NHF) Scheme, many Nigerians, including long-standing NHF contributors, remain unable to access these products.   “This is a reality we must face boldly. It requires fresh ideas, new partnerships, and innovative financing solutions beyond what we have done in the past,” Arc. Dangiwa said.   The Minister commended FMBN’s recent milestones, including the provision of mortgages, rent-to-own products, home renovation loans, delivery of housing units, digital service improvements, and NHF refunds, but stressed that “progress is not the destination; it is the foundation to build upon.”   Highlighting the Bank’s statutory mandate under the FMBN Act of 1993 to provide long-term credit to mortgage institutions, regulate the mortgage market, and administer the NHF sustainably, Dangiwa charged the Bank to intensify its efforts to make mortgages truly affordable for all Nigerians.   He proposed additional measures to scale impact, including:   •    Government-backed subsidies or interest buy-downs to further reduce mortgage rates. •    Flexible, income-based repayment models tailored to household realities. •    Stronger partnerships with development finance institutions and capital markets to mobilize cheaper, long-term funds. •    Specialized mortgage products for informal sector workers, who make up a significant portion of the population.   Arc. Dangiwa also stressed the need for a nationwide awareness campaign to ensure that all NHF contributors understand and access their entitlements.    He directed FMBN to play an active role in the planned Renewed Hope State-by-State Homeownership and Housing Development Campaign, working closely with governors to unlock land, structure bankable projects, and bring homeownership opportunities closer to citizens.   “FMBN remains our strongest instrument for delivering affordable mortgage finance in Nigeria. Its mandate is clear, its progress commendable, but the affordability challenge is far from solved. We must push harder, innovate more, and stay focused on ensuring every hardworking Nigerian has a fair and realistic chance to own a home,” he stated.   The Minister reaffirmed the Federal Government’s commitment under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda for Housing and Urban Development to provide the enabling policies, reforms, and institutional support needed to strengthen FMBN as the backbone of Nigeria’s affordable housing finance system.   ...

Housing Ministry Conducts Free Eye Screening For Staff    * Initiative, a management responsibility, an important part of staff welfare - Belgore    In a proactive move to enhance the well being and work place productivity of officers, Ministry of Housing and Urban Development, has organised  a free eye screening exercise for staff of the Ministry, thursday 31st July, 2025.   The screening was conducted in collaboration with the Nothernlight Eye Center, Abuja led by Dr. Justice Amadi.   In his remarks, the Permanent Secretary Dr. Shuaib Belgore emphasized that the initiative was an important part of staff welfare, pointing out that the eyes medically, mirrors what happens in the body; “when they look into your eyes, they can see what is happening with your blood vessels all over the body”, he said.   While he noted that eye diseases can indicate broader health issues, such as hypertension, diabetes and hepatitis, the Permanent Secretary mentioned that the Ministry would also conduct free comprehensive screenings in those health areas in time to come, stressing on the need for early detection and treatment.   Dr. Belgore, who is also a medical doctor highlighted the high rate of sudden deaths in the country, and sought the cooperation of the staff with the Nothernlight Eye Center team, saying that it was the responsibility of the management of the Ministry to help staff find solutions to the diagnosis they would get.   He clarified that eye disorders were not just about refractive errors that require the use of glasses but also include serious conditions like glaucoma, which can lead to blindness if untreated.   While stressing that the aim of the exercise was for prevention and early intervention to maintain eye health and quality of life, he charged the Directors and members of staff to take the screening as an opportunity to detect issues with their eyes, as well as take advantage of interventions by the management.   Dr. Belgore further informed of the availability of additional free surgical assistance for eye disorders like cataracts and glaucoma by the eye Center;   " We are a ministry with a very large number of staff. We're not selecting some to benefit, we want everybody, to be part of this”, Belgore said.   Earlier, the Director of the Human Resource Management, Dr. Akinola Adesina, informed that it was part of the eye center’s social responsibility to conduct the free eye screening for the staff of the Ministry.   He thanked the Permanent Secretary for approving the exercise even with his presence, to ensure that staff with eye challenges get interventions.   On his part, the team leader of the Northernlight Eye Center, Dr. Justice Amadi, stated that the free eye screening programme was part of ways to tackle the growing concerns of visual impairments.   He informed that the programme aims to detect those with visual abnormalities and provide appropriate treatment to align with the World Health Organization goals, particularly the 2025 target of preventing blindness.   Dr. Amadi also noted that their focus was on diagnosing and giving effective treatment plans to various eye conditions, including cancer, glaucoma, age-related macular degeneration, and refractive errors. ...

Housing Minister Declares Open 19th Africa International Housing Show Unceils New State by State Housing  Campain   * Says FG to convene States Housing Roundtables   * To embed Housing Reform Champions in State Governments   Minister of Housing and Urban Development, Arc. Ahmed Musa Dangiwa, officially declared open the 19th Edition of the Africa International Housing Show (AIHS), reaffirming the commitment of the Federal Government under the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to bridge Nigeria’s housing gap through bold, inclusive, and innovative reforms. Delivering his opening address at the Transcorp Hilton, Abuja, before an audience of Ministers, Members of Parliament, Ambassadors, development partners, housing professionals, financial institutions, and private sector leaders from across Africa and beyond, Arc. Dangiwa stressed that affordability remains the biggest barrier to homeownership on the continent, despite growing housing supply efforts.   “Across Africa, millions of families still cannot afford decent homes even when they are available. This administration is not just building houses; we are fixing the structural and macroeconomic foundations that will make housing truly affordable and sustainable for Nigerians today and in the future,” the Minister said.   He highlighted the Federal Government’s three-tier Renewed Hope Housing Programme - comprising Renewed Hope Cities, Renewed Hope Estates, and Renewed Hope Social Housing Estates - as the blueprint for delivering affordable homes nationwide.    To date, over ₦70 billion in private capital has been mobilized under Public-Private Partnerships (PPPs) to drive large-scale urban housing developments. The Minister also spotlighted key interventions by the Federal Mortgage Bank of Nigeria (FMBN), including the Rent-to-Own Scheme and Rental Assistance Product, designed to ease housing pressure on urban workers and young families, as well as the upcoming MOFI Real Estate Investment Fund (MREIF) to expand access to long-term mortgage loans at affordable rates.   In a major announcement, Arc. Dangiwa unveiled plans for a State-by-State Homeownership and Housing Development Campaign, a collaborative initiative with State Governments, private developers, and development partners aimed at bridging policy execution gaps at sub-national levels.   “We will embed Housing Reform Champions in State Governments, convene State Housing Roundtables, and provide hands-on support to structure viable housing projects and unlock financing opportunities,” the Minister explained.   He further reiterated the commitment of the Ministry to urban renewal and slum upgrades, aligning with the UN-Habitat Global Action Plan and the Addis Declaration on Inclusive Urban Development to ensure that “no one and no place is left behind.”   Arc. Dangiwa called on development finance institutions, donor agencies, and the private sector to partner with the Federal Government in transforming shared knowledge from forums like AIHS into tangible results for Nigerians.   “Housing is not a privilege. It is a right. When we invest in housing, we invest in people, jobs, cities, and our collective future,” he said.   The 19th Africa International Housing Show is expected to attract thousands of participants and exhibitors from across Africa and globally, serving as a strategic platform for dialogue, partnership building, and showcasing innovative solutions to Africa’s housing challenges. ...