FEDERAL MINISTRY OF HOUSING & URBAN DEVELOPMENT

Follow Us:

Federal Ministry of

Housing & Urban Development (FMHUD)

Federal Republic of Nigeria

Welcome To Federal Ministry Of Housing And Urban Development.

Minister Federal Ministry Of Housing And Urban Development Arc. Ahmed Musa Dangiwa.

Housing And Urban Development.

Inspection Tour Of Houses For The National Housing Scheme.

Housing And Urban Development.

May

2025

LATEST PRESS

Housing Ministry, NIWA to Harmonise Shoreline Development Licensing — Joint Committee Set Up

Abuja, 30 April 2025 – The Federal Ministry of Housing and Urban Development (FMHUD) and the Nigerian Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA) have agreed to strengthen collaboration and establish a unified standard procedure for licensing developments on the Lagos shoreline.

This decision was reached at a high-level meeting held at the Ministry’s Headquarters in Mabushi, Abuja, between the leadership of both institutions, led by the Honourable Minister of Housing and Urban Development, Arc. Ahmed Musa Dangiwa, and the Managing Director of NIWA, Mr. Bola Oyebamiji.

In his remarks, the Honourable Minister emphasized the urgent need for both institutions to work together as “one government” to eliminate regulatory conflicts, avoid duplication of mandates, and ensure orderly, sustainable urban development—especially in critical areas such as the Lagos shoreline.

“Our operations intersect and are connected,” the Minister noted. “We must act together to bring order by ensuring that our actions follow a clear regulatory framework that respects both the law and our respective institutional mandates.”

To this end, both parties agreed to set up a joint technical committee to define standard procedures and streamline the process for licensing shoreline developments in Lagos. The committee will comprise representatives from FMHUD, NIWA, and other relevant stakeholders. Its terms of reference will include clarifying roles, eliminating overlaps, enabling data sharing, and recommending sustainable, enforceable guidelines for shoreline development.

During the meeting, Arc. Dangiwa reiterated the distinct mandates of each stakeholder involved: the Ministry of Housing and Urban Development as the administrator of land titles on federal shorelines and national urban policy custodian; NIWA as the regulator of inland waterways infrastructure; and the Lagos State Government as the authority on physical planning and development control within its constitutional jurisdiction.

“Our Ministry, the Federal Ministry of Housing and Urban Development, is charged with the issuance and administration of land titles on federal shorelines in accordance with the Land (Title Vesting, etc.) Act of 1975, and the broader framework of the Land Use Act. We are also responsible for shaping national urban development policies that promote sustainable, inclusive, and orderly growth. The Nigerian Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA), under the NIWA Act of 2004, is entrusted with the responsibility of regulating inland waterways—including dredging, ferry services, and permits for water-based infrastructure—on declared federal waterways such as the Lagos Lagoon. The Lagos State Government, empowered by the 1999 Constitution and its own planning laws, is responsible for overseeing physical development, building permits, and urban planning within its jurisdiction, including shoreline areas not under direct federal control”, Arc. Dangiwa.

In his own remarks, the Managing Director of NIWA, Mr. Bola Oyebamiji, commended the Honourable Minister for his leadership and proactive engagement, describing the meeting as “a significant step toward resolving longstanding institutional overlaps.”

He added, “NIWA is committed to working with the Federal Ministry of Housing and Urban Development and other stakeholders to ensure that shoreline developments, especially in Lagos, are carried out in a safe, lawful, and environmentally responsible manner. We welcome the creation of this joint committee and look forward to developing a seamless, coordinated framework for the benefit of the Nigerian people.”

The meeting marks a continuation of earlier engagements between both institutions and signals a renewed commitment to inter-agency cooperation in the interest of sustainable urban development and the delivery of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda.

Jul

2024

Housing Ministry, World Bank Collaborate on National Land Documentation, Titling Programme. * move can unlock $300 Billion in Dead Capital * Sues for establishment of National Land Commission to operationalise Land Use Act The Federal Ministry of Housing and Urban Development has announced plans to partner with the World Bank Group towards conducting a National Land Documentation and Titling Programme in the country. Speaking at the Workshop Nigerian Livable Cities organised by the Ministry in collaboration with the World Bank, Minister of Housing and Urban Development, Arc. Ahmed Musa Dangiwa, said the move has become necessary to explore the potential of land as an economic asset which is yet to be fully tapped by the country. The event, held at the Abuja Continental Hotel, was aimed at fostering understanding and mapping out modalities towards the successful implementation of the World Bank’s Urban Livability and Mobility programme in Nigeria. "It is a comprehensive initiative that encompasses sub-programs that are very important to us. This includes housing and land management, urban services delivery, climate change action, urban management and finance, and transportation," Dangiwa noted. In the area of land, he deferred to statistics which show that less than 10% of land in Nigeria is registered and has titles. "As a result, landowners cannot easily leverage land as an economic asset. This is sad and unfortunate. As part of our land reforms we are exploring a partnership with the World Bank towards the implementation of a National Land Registration and Titling Programme. "Through this programme, we aim to partner with State Governments towards improving land formalisation from less than 10% to 50% in the next ten years. This is critical to unlocking over $300bn in dead capital. We have already worked on a draft framework for the programme and I have directed the Ministry’s focal persons and Consultant to share with the World Bank Group so we can begin the process towards adoption and implementation," he said. He added that the programme is an important component in the Ministry's land reforms strategy and will complement the Ministry’s plans to set up a National Land Commission to operationalize the Land Use Act. The Nigeria Urban Livability and Mobility Programmatic Analytics and Advisory Services (ULM PASA) was launched by the World Bank to provide the Federal and State governments with technical support to improve the design and implementation of development policies and programs in selected Nigerian cities to enhance their livability, competitiveness and resilience. To this end, the Minister said "the workshop provides a platform to share knowledge, exchange ideas, and forge partnerships that will propel our cities towards sustainable, inclusive and resilient growth. We must harness the power of collaboration and leverage the expertise and experience of the World Bank to develop innovative solutions that address the multifaceted problems facing our cities." Dangiwa took out time to reel out the efforts of the Federal Government towards developing livable and sustainable cities, including the Renewed Hope Cities and Estates programme which aims to deliver 50,000 housing units in the first phase. He explained "Our cities, once strongholds of economic growth and social progress, are now grappling with an array of complexities: rapid urbanization, infrastructure deficits, environmental degradation, climate change, housing deficit, poor service delivery and social inequality. These challenges, while daunting, also present immense opportunities for innovation and transformation. Accordingly, the Minister stated also that establishing new cities and estates provides an opportunity for deliberate planning and designing of urban spaces that are not only beautiful in addition to landscape, but also promote efficiency and sustainability. Stating further " This is more so given the climate challenges that we face in ensuring that the housing sector contributes its quota to helping our country meet its green gas reduction targets. At the Ministry, we believe that implementing green building techniques, efficient waste management, and creating green spaces can contribute to a healthier and more environmentally friendly urban landscape”. The World Bank Task Team Leader, Fuad Malkawi, presented the preliminary findings of the World Bank analytical review of Nigerian cities which he said were at the risk of disaster exposure due to inadequate infrastructure and basic social services as a result of rapid growth. The workshop had two panel discussion sessions on; key priorities of state governments to improve Urban Livability and on Institutional Constrains to Improving Urban Livability. Participants at the workshop include states' commissioners and senior government officials responsible for lands, environment and housing matters. States that attended the workshop were; Anambra, Abia, Edo, Kaduna. Kano, Lagos, Oyo, Rivers and Plateau The main objective was helping Nigerian cities to become more livable through collaborative deliberation on key urban policies, challenges, and institutional barriers hindering the effective implementation of urban development programs at the state and city levels. Recommendations presented at the end of the workshop include; addressing the challenges of inaccurate data, reducing pressure on existing services due to rapid urban growth through adequate urban planning, controlling development along flood plains, developing programmes in line with government policies to drive urban livability, investing in climate smart infrastructure and services through prioritization process, and facilitating the review of the Land Use Act 1978 (1999 as amended). Others are the development of a Drainage Master Plan for flood control, and a National Urban Programme to operationalize the National Urban Development Policy, the creation of City Administrations by State Governments backed by political will and Legal framework and improving their roles in service delivery, as well as integrating disaster resilience and early warning systems with State development plans, among others. ...

Jul

2024

Ministry of Finance Incorporated Explores Collaborative Areas with Housing Ministry * We have Structures on ground to leverage on - Dangiwa * FMHUD, Key Collaborator - MOFI Minister of Housing and Urban Development Arc Ahmed Dangiwa has told the Ministry of Finance incorporated (MOFI) that housing ministry has so many existing structures on ground for MOFI to leverage on, in its quest to carry out its supervising function of government enterprises. Dangiwa stated this when he received members of the Ministry of Finance Incorporated (MOFI) on a visit to his ministry and presented a strategic partnership proposal to the ministry MOFI, is a subsidiary under the office of the Accountant General of the Federation, responsible for supervising assets and investments of the federal government owned enterprises, interests, estates and rights. The Minister told MOFI that, the Federal Housing Authority (FHA), an Agency under the Housing Ministry has branches in all the 36 States of the federation, including lands with various mortgages to cater for the housing needs of Nigerians, urging MOFI to work with FHA regardless of their developers to create a healthy competition. He said "most of the federal government assets are being managed by the ministry of housing and urban development. " One of the deliverables of the ministry under this administration is reforming the Housing Institutions and the ministry is doing everything possible to recapitalize the Federal Mortgage Bank. FHA has been partially commercialized to invest in the capital market by constructing and selling houses", he stated In the same vein, Dangiwa disclosed that, the Ministry plans to generate Two Trillion Real Estate Investment, which is in line with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu 's Renewed Hope agenda and inorder to make this a reality, he added that the ministry decided to partner with Public Private Partnership which is the biggest aspect of the funding structure. Speaking earlier, the Chief Executive Officer and managing Director of the MOFI, Dr. Armstrong Ume Takang, told the Minister that the essence of their visit was to support what Federal Ministry of Housing and Urban Development is doing to use government platform to mobilize funds. He explained that proper Titles to Assets especially landed properties can unlock capital to do other things, adding that most properties both in rural and urban areas don't have proper titles including government properties. The MD described the ministry of housing as a key collaborator in achieving their primary objective of long term, low- cost mortgage financing at scale for Nigerians. He stated that asset optimization in line with National Housing and Urban Development goals, facilitates capital base for housing and urban development renewal and ensures seemless integration between asset management and urban planning initiatives. Dr. Takang further disclosed that MOFI's aim is to create jobs through construction and urban development projects, skills development programs in real estate and property management, as well as affordable housing initiatives for low and middle income families. " There should be a Mechanism where people can find affordable loans with long term payment plan of monthly payment, in that case, the demand will be high and when demands are high you are creating more jobs for developers, not only meeting the demands but also improving Urban development", he explained "We need more money to build houses, we need more money to provide mortgages, we need to be creative on how we source the money", He added. ...

Jul

2024

We are Set to Deliver 1000 Housing Units In Five Months Time - Dangiwa … says housing ministry can generate N300bn from sale of houses in two years Minister of Housing and Urban Development has disclosed that 1000 housing units of the Renewed Hope Cities is slated to be delivered by the end of the year, with the other units to be delivered by mid next year for commissioning by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, at the pilot phase of the project in Karsana Abuja. The Minister made this disclosure while briefing the Senate Committee on Lands, Housing and Urban Development, during their oversight visit to the Ministry. He explained that a consortium of developers were contracted to deliver a total of 100,000 housing units all over the federation under the Renewed Hope Cities and Estates programme, 20,000 units of which will be in Abuja with the pilot phase at Karsana to house 3112 housing units. He also noted that the developers are to provide the financing for the units, the land and off-takers, while the Ministry guarantees their loan with bankable off-takers guarantee, to enable them access the finance. Dangiwa made a comprehensive three dimensional presentation of the work ongoing at the Renewed Hope City site in Karsana to the Senate Committee, stating that the developers have accessed funding through Family Homes funds and other means, and are on site working to ensure they deliver in due time. He informed that a steering committee comprising the honourable Ministers, the Permanent Secretary and the consortium of developers was set up, as well as a monitoring committee made up of officials from the Ministry, Federal Mortgage Bank, Family Home Funds, the developers and other institutions, who monitors the projects on a weekly basis. The Minister during his briefing, presented some documents earlier requested by the Senate Committee to include: a comprehensive briefing of the activities of the Ministry, the budget performance of 2023 and 2024 appropriation act covering all budget lines including the 2023 supplementary budget act, a detailed implementation of the Renewed Hope Cities and Estates programme. Others are; detailed implementation of the Renewed Hope Urban Renewal and Slum upgrade programme, detailed progress report of the National Housing Programme Nationwide, a list of the federal government properties under the control of the Ministry Nationwide, details of partnership between the Ministry and the private sector or other public institution for urban development, amongst others. While fielding questions from the journalists during the oversight visit, the Housing Minister was delighted to inform that the Senate Committee advocated for more funding for the Ministry to the tune of N500bn, further expressing hope that the Ministry can return up to N300bn to the coffers of government from the sale of houses in two years time, if given a budgetary allocation of N500bn. He also noted with gladness that the ongoing efforts of the Ministry were highly appreciated by the Senate Committee, having done groundbreaking for the Renewed Hope Cities and Estates in 13 sites which is funded by the 2023 supplementary budget. “We also took them through the public private partnerships that we are doing with some of the reputable developers to which Karsana is one of it where we are building 3112 unit; we have discussed also about the Slum Upgrade and Urban Renewal which cuts across 28 sites across the country. Most of these projects are almost completed and we are about to commence the 2024 budget”, he added. On their part, the chairman of the committee on lands, housing and Urban Development Senator Aminu Waziri Tambuwal, noted that their visit signaled the commencement of oversight activities of the committee for the 2023 supplementary and 2024 budget, pointing out that committees of the senate are saddled with the responsibility of oversighting the activities of Ministries, Departments and Agencies under them, as required under the constitution of the federal republic of Nigeria. He said that the 2023 supplementary budget has advanced, hence the need to visit the ministry and proceed to some sites where the appropriations are being implemented to see for themselves and access what is going on. Tambuwal thanked the Minister for his cooperation, adding that it was in the interest of the country to make sure that monies appropriated are spent in accordance with extant laws and regulations. He as well consented that more funds needs to be allocated to the Ministry giving that housing is one sector that will generally distribute wealth to the lowest of the low. ...

SPEECHES

Aug

2022

Keynote Address At The 2022 Inaugural Retreat Of The Federal Mortgage Bank Of Nigeria Held At Transcorp Hilton Hotel On Monday 1st August 2022

If there are any words which capture the necessity and the reality that beckons for the Federal Mortgage Bank of Nigeria, those words are best represented by Repositioning and Performance.

They underly the rationale for setting up the bank many years ago, which is to provide service to Nigerians.

Undeniably, the quantity and the need of those Nigerians has not remained the same since the creation of the bank, decades ago.

This is why I am enthused by the theme of the management retreat which is: “STRATEGY REPOSITIONING FOR OPTIMIZED PERFORMANCE,” with sub themes of culture change and informal sector integration; and delighted to be the Keynote speaker.

Since the inception of the Muhammadu Buhari administration in 2015, the bank has a positive story of service delivery to tell in the number of mortgages issued, housing schemes funded and completed; changes in eligibility conditions to improve access to funding to mention a few.

But this positive story is only a small part of what is possible if the bank imagines and reinvent itself.

As the promoter of the bank, the Federal Government has infused the board and management with a sense of how it should be repositioned by constituting a more representative board that is reflective of our national diversity of gender, religion, ethnicity, and this has been achieved whilst increasing the number of banking professionals in the management and board.

The intention is to ensure optimum service to the real owners of the bank – The Nigerian public and contributors to the National Housing Fund (NHF).

This is a type of repositioning the government envisions and welcomes; one that emphasizes the banking identity of the institution.

After all, it is called a bank, it collects people’s money and gives out loans therefore it must be a bank and is expected to act like one.

Government has therefore supported the acquisition by the bank of core banking applications and software that reflects the reality of its environment today as distinct from many decades ago.

In addition, and consistent with our current thinking, the National Council on Housing and Lands has adopted the recommendation for the bank to seek NDIC’s insurance of its contributors’ funds just as is done for depositors in other banks.

These are some of the actions and events of strategy repositioning, intended to deliver optimized performance.

It is not my intention to steal the thunder of the board and the management as they will reveal to you the granular details of steps and processes being undertaken at various stages to invigorate the bank; including the sustenance of the initiative by previous board and management to embrace the informal sector.

Ladies and gentlemen, one of the obstacles to access to housing that we must remove is the one that impedes access to finance.

There are various factors that constitute this impediment but it is clear to us that the FMBN must not be one of those factors or the causative agent of those factors.

That would defeat the essence of the vision of the founders of the bank.

I know that the Bank is issuing mortgages, Home Refurbishment Loans and has started a Rent-to-Own initiative.

But is that all that the bank can do?

What can the bank do for contributors who need to pay 2 to 3 years rent in advance for monthly salary received in Arrears?

I must therefore commend board and management for the vision and the action behind the conception and the undertaking of this retreat.

It offers an opportunity for honest self-review and introspection, as it does for teambuilding and strategy planning.

My Keynote message as you deliberate on all options is to ask yourselves these questions: -

Have we fulfilled the vision of the founders?

How can we serve the owners better?

I urge all present to optimize the opportunities the retreat offers by participating maximally.

I wish you very fruitful and successful deliberations.

Babatunde Raji Fashola, SAN
Honourable Minister for Works and Housing

Monday 1st August 2022

Jul

2022

Remarks At The National Council On Lands, Housing And Urban Development Delivered On Thursday 28th Of July 2022 At Sokoto On The Theme, “Housing Our People, By All Of Government And All Our People”

On behalf of the Honourable Minister of State, the Permanent Secretary and all the staff of the Ministry of Works and Housing, I welcome all commissioners, state representatives and invited persons and organizations to this year’s National Council meeting on Lands, Housing and Urban Development, the 11th in the series.

On your behalf and on behalf of the Federal Ministry of Works and Housing and the Federal Government of Nigeria, I would like to thank our host, my dear brother, Governor Aminu Tambuwal, the people and government of Sokoto state for accepting to host this year’s meeting and for all the provisions they have made in that regard.

Let me start by telling you how pleased I am that the National Housing Programme that was initiated by our Ministry at the onset of the Muhammadu Buhari led administration is now delivering on its objective.

Apart from stimulating the economies of the 34 states and the FCT in the communities where work is being undertaken for the construction of houses, by providing work for artisans, builders, engineers, and other skilled persons in the built industry, the construction sites have been and remain centres of supply for building materials and other commodities.

Many people who hitherto were unemployed have had their dignity restored because they can leave home every day saying to their families – I AM GOING TO WORK.

This is the part of the change we promised, and Sokoto state has not been left out.

I am also pleased to report that we are now in a season of completion, as many of these houses have been completed and are now being handed over to the beneficiaries who follow the allocation procedure set out in the National Housing Programme web portal (https://nhp.worksandhousing.gov.ng ).

Across the states, the ministers of the Federal Republic have been representing President Muhammadu Buhari at the commissioning and handing over of these houses.

On the 22nd March 2022, the Minister of Police Affairs, Maigari Dingyadi, represented the President to Commission the Sokoto State National Housing Programme. This first phase included 80 units of housing comprising 4units one bedroom, 48 units two bedroom, 28 units three-bedroom bungalows.

Today, people who had long dreamt to be homeowners now live that reality as they have been successfully allocated some of these houses.

Again, that is change.

Perhaps one of the most pleasing impacts of this National Housing initiative by the Federal Government, is that it has been used by President Buhari, to redeem the housing promise made to the 22-man squad of the Super Eagles since winning the African Nations Cup in 1994.

A promise that remained unkept for 28 years has been redeemed by President Buhari, and if you ask the members of the Super Eagles, they will tell you that things have changed for them for the better.

But the National Housing Programme is only one initiative of the Federal Government to address the housing needs of our people.

There are others by the Federal Housing Authority (FHA) by way of direct construction in various states, just as the Federal Mortgage Bank has financed the construction of about 6000 housing units at various stages of completion.

Similarly, the Federal Government has increased its financing intervention support for housing through the Federal Mortgage Bank by increasing the number of mortgages that have been issued and reducing the equity contribution requirement to make it more accessible.

Of course, I cannot ignore the various interventions by State Governments who have sensibly deployed resources to provide housing in their states and our host, Sokoto state is a good example.

Let me use this platform to inform the meeting that State Governments can apply on behalf of their residents or indigenes to fund the acquisition of parts of the National Housing Programmes constructed in the states should they be so desirous.

Of course, whatever the States and Federal Governments can do by way of housing construction is limited, compared to what the private sector can do. The evidence out there shows very clearly that the bulk of housing in our society and across the world is delivered by the private sector - individuals and corporate.

In this regard, I am happy to report a visible increase in the participation of the private sector in Nigeria’s housing sector.

Nationwide on many media platforms, we daily see, hear and read about the development of one estate or the other across Nigeria and this is most welcome and must be encouraged.

And this brings me to the theme of this year’s council meeting, which is “HOUSING OUR PEOPLE, BY ALL OF GOVERNMENT AND ALL OUR PEOPLE.”

The message is that housing provision is a collaborative effort by all levels of government and the private sector.

From what I have said so far about what the Federal Government is doing, what the states are doing and what the private sector is doing, the Nigerian housing sector is heading in the right direction even if there is more work to be done.

It is to the work that needs to be done that I now intend to turn my attention.

The first thing I wish to address is that we all must remain conscious that not everybody wants a house built by government; as there are those who wish to build by themselves and only seek access to land.

We must therefore reform the process that governs allocation of land and issuance of title documents such as Certificates of Occupancy.

While the Federal Government has some land, mainly acquired from the states, the bulk of the work that needs to be done here lies with the State Governments because of their almost total control of land by virtue of the Land Use Act.

Some have argued that the Land Use Act is the problem about access to land. I beg to differ.

If there is a problem, my view is that the problem is not with law but with the administration of the law.

How much have we automated our land administration processes in order to make them efficient before complaining about that law.

States that have made this type of investment will report an improvement in their land administration system.

Today I can tell you that since 2017, when the President delegated his power under the Land Use Act to grant consent and issue certificate of occupancy, to the Minister we have issued over 5,000 certificates of occupancy and granted 2,738 consent to land transactions.

These are important documents to facilitate housing delivery and housing finance that we need to pay more attention to, in addition to the process involved in granting of construction permits and approvals.

Ladies and gentlemen, the other important matter we must pay attention to is the issue of rent.

Housing supply and demand must be seen beyond ownership alone and must include rental housing.

At the Federal Government level, we have introduced Rent-to-Own into our acquisition/sale model for the disposal of the Houses in the National Housing Programme.

I concede that majority of the houses belong to the private sector and they expect legitimate income from rent for the properties.

However, I hold a strong view that asking for 2 to 3 years rent in advance from working class people (as distinct from corporate tenants who may prefer to pay in advance) does more harm than good to all concerned and to the economy.

Interestingly, rent is a matter over which the Federal Government has no constitutional authority because it is a local matter and rightly so.

But I use the platform of this meeting to challenge and provoke all state representatives to thoughts and action about how we can make the payment of rent easier and comfortable for both tenants and landlords.

This would be a most revolutionary intervention when working class people can pay their rent when they receive their salaries.

This is possible if we try and this will give the fullest possible expression to the theme of this meeting which is “HOUSING OUR PEOPLE, BY ALL OF GOVERNMENT AND ALL OUR PEOPLE.”

Thank you for listening.

Babatunde Raji Fashola, SAN
Honourable Minister for Works and Housing

Thursday 28th July 2022