Namibian Minister Commends Nigeria’s Renewed Hope Housing Programme, Applauds National Housing Fund (NHF) Scheme

The Minister of Urban and Rural Development of the Republic of Namibia, Honourable Sankwasa James Sankwasa, has commended Nigeria’s Renewed Hope Housing Programme and applauded the National Housing Fund (NHF) Scheme, describing them as impactful policy instruments for expanding affordable housing and deepening homeownership.

Hon. Sankwasa made these remarks during a courtesy visit to the Honourable Minister of Housing and Urban Development, Arc. Ahmed Musa Dangiwa, at his office in Abuja on Friday, December 12, 2025.

The Namibian Minister, whose portfolio oversees regional and local governance as well as housing development, noted that his Ministry plays a central role in tackling housing deficits and improving living conditions across Namibia. 

He informed his host that he was in Nigeria to participate in the 2025 Africa Housing Awards and considered it important to engage the Ministry to exchange ideas and share experiences on affordable housing delivery.

Hon. Sankwasa explained that Namibia’s housing challenge is largely driven by the rapid growth of informal settlements. He stated that the Namibian Government has adopted a multi-pronged approach to address this, including free land titling for low-income citizens, structured identification of development zones, and the cultivation of strong partnerships with development partners.

According to him, development partners are deliberately integrated into Namibia’s national housing framework and budgetary planning, noting that while partners support housing construction, the Government of the Republic of Namibia assumes responsibility for the provision of critical infrastructure to make such developments sustainable and liveable.

Responding, the Honourable Minister of Housing and Urban Development, Arc. Ahmed Musa Dangiwa, welcomed the Namibian delegation and reaffirmed Nigeria’s commitment to South-South cooperation and knowledge-sharing in the housing and urban development sector.

Arc. Dangiwa highlighted the Renewed Hope Housing Programme as a flagship intervention of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, designed to shift housing delivery in Nigeria from isolated projects to a coordinated national programme spanning Renewed Hope Cities, Renewed Hope Estates, Social Housing, urban renewal, and slum upgrading.

The Minister also underscored the strategic importance of the National Housing Fund (NHF) as a long-standing and sustainable housing finance mechanism that pools long-term funds to support affordable mortgages for Nigerian workers, while strengthening institutional delivery through agencies such as the Federal Mortgage Bank of Nigeria.

He assured the Namibian Minister of the Ministry’s readiness to share technical knowledge, policy frameworks, and implementation experience, noting that Africa’s housing challenge requires home-grown solutions, regional collaboration, and strong public-private partnerships.