FG TARGETS 250,000 ABANDONED HOUSING UNITS FOR RECOVERY

The Federal Government has begun assessing abandoned housing projects across Nigeria, with about 250,000 housing units identified as potentially recoverable for allocation to Nigerians, including civil servants.

The Minister of Housing and Urban Development, Muttaqa Rabe Darma, disclosed this in Abuja while speaking at the presentation of houses to 430 staff members of the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority.

Darma said the government was taking an inventory of abandoned housing projects across the country to determine their status and explore ways of bringing viable properties back into use.

He explained that the Federal Government was engaging state governors on the possibility of taking over or acquiring some abandoned projects for allocation to civil servants and other Nigerians.

The minister said the initiative formed part of efforts under the Renewed Hope Housing Programme to increase the supply of affordable homes and reduce the country’s housing deficit, which he estimated at about 16 million units.

He also said the government was exploring financing options, including access to the National Housing Fund and mortgage facilities, particularly for workers in the informal sector.

The Federal Ministry of Housing and Urban Development has separately stated that viable abandoned government housing projects would be rehabilitated, upgraded and completed to increase the number of homes available to Nigerians.

Darma said the government would work with state governments, mortgage institutions, developers and private investors to expand access to affordable housing.